USC Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2022

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Apr 23, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) hands off the ball to running back Travis Dye (26) during the spring game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Sep. 17. Fresno State Bulldogs. Scouting Report. player. 897. Pick Analysis. Los Angeles, CA. 3

What a strange trip Jeff Tedford has taken back to this job. Originally retiring at the end of 2019 because of health problems, the former Cal and Fresno State head coach is back.

He’ll have Jake Haener with him to start the journey. Haener turned himself into a mythic figure last year with his amazing play under duress in a comeback win against UCLA.

They’ll need that play, and a bit of luck, to beat this year’s version of the Trojans. It might be closer than the spread suggests, but it’ll be a USC win.

Record: 3-0

Jonathan Smith, after four years, finally mustered a winning season for the Beavers in 2021. That’s no knock on him, however, as it is usually very difficult to win in Corvallis.

Although this team was a bit of a surprise last year, that doesn’t mean they were lucky. They got decent play all around, and B.J. Baylor at running back was a revelation for them.

But, Baylor is gone, and Oregon State isn’t going to have the talent advantage in this game. It’s true that the Beavs won 45-27 last year, but this is also a different USC team.

USC wins.

Record: 4-0, 2-0

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