USC Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2020 season

USC will be opening the season against a familiar foe in a familiar venue. The Trojans and Alabama will square off in Dallas for the second time and USC fans can pray that this game will not be similar to the 2016 version.

In 2016, Alabama ran ragged over the Trojans in what was one of the low moments of the Clay Helton era and in USC’s history. The Crimson Tide won the game 52-6 and it wasn’t even that close.

Alabama will enter the season as a top three team this year and return plenty of firepower, even with Tua Tagovailoa departing for the NFL. The Crimson Tide return receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris and Mac Jones looked more than capable in his three starts last season.

I think the interesting matchup will come with the USC offense versus the Alabama defense. Alabama has struggled at times with the air-raid offense that has a lot of weapons on the perimeter and a precise quarterback. USC has all of those things. Alabama will be losing starters Trevon Diggs and Xavier McKinney in the secondary and that will be a big advantage for the USC receivers.

It won’t be as bad as 2016 and USC has the ability to put points on the scoreboard, but the coaching matchup between Clay Helton and Nick Saban is too lopsided for the Trojans to overcome.

Final Score: USC 31, Alabama 42 (0-1)

This will mark the first time that these two teams have ever met, and it will come at a good time for the Trojans, as they will be looking to shake off the sting of a disappointing loss to Alabama.

New Mexico had a surprise nine-win season in 2016, but have struggled to replicate that success in the three years since. The Lobos will be counting on former Arizona State defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales to help lead the program in the right direction.

The Trojans should not have much trouble with this one as New Mexico is a struggling program with a new head coach. USC wins big.

Final Score: USC 56, New Mexico 10 (1-1)