USC football faces tough test with Fresno State in Week 1

USC football opens the season at home against Fresno State. Can the Trojans kick off the season with a win over the defending Mountain West champions?

USC saw their bowl eligibility streak crumble in 2018, as the Trojans lost their last three contests in rivalry games against Cal, UCLA, and Notre Dame to fall to 5-7 for the season. It did not cost head coach Clay Helton his job leading the program. What that means, though, is that Helton is on the hottest seat possible entering the 2019 campaign.

The Trojans need a big start to boost their confidence heading into the new year. Up first on the docket is Fresno State, a team that is coming off a Mountain West title season in 2018 but lost a lot of talent from that championship squad. Jeff Tedford has a lot of work ahead of him as he replaces Marcus McMaryion at quarterback along with seven other offensive starters.

Will Fresno State have the firepower to give USC a scare at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Pac-12 After Dark action on the West Coast? Or will the Trojans pull away and set themselves up for a run at the Pac-12 South title this year? Here is how to catch all the action on Saturday night from California.

Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: ESPN | FuboTV

Keys to Victory

USC needs a big game from JT Daniels against what looks to be a Fresno State secondary in transition. Daniels will also need help from Vavae Malepeai and Stephen Carr, who are listed as the Trojans’ co-starters in the backfield. On defense, the Trojans need to get pressure on new Bulldogs starting quarterback Jorge Reyna.

For Fresno State to pull off the upset on the road as two-touchdown underdogs, they will need Reyna to be flawless as he takes over for McMaryion at quarterback. The Bulldogs will also need their stout defensive front to wreak havoc on Daniels and stymie any chances that Malepeai and Carr have to break through to the second level.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Bovada

Point Spread: USC -13.5
Over/Under: 52

Prediction

Meeting for the first time since 2014, Fresno State will look to extend the Mountain West winning streak over Pac-12 opponents to six games. But the Bulldogs simply lack the firepower to hang with the Trojans for four full quarters. Reyna is going to be serviceable at quarterback, but there is going to be an inevitable adjustment period.

Look for Daniels to throw for more than 300 yards as he leads the Trojans to cover the point spread and open the year with a bang.

Final Score: USC 38, Fresno State 20