Northwestern (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) at No. 20 USC (6-2, 4-1)
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV/radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/ESPN LA 710
Line: USC by 14.5
NOTABLE INJURIES
USC: OUT: RB Waymond Jordan (ankle), DL Jamaal Jarrett (undisclosed), CB Prophet Brown (undisclosed), RB Eli Sanders (knee), CB Chasen Johnson (knee); QUESTIONABLE: CB DJ Harvey (undisclosed), LB Anthony Beavers, Jr. (undisclosed), OL Micah Banuelos (undisclosed), DL Floyd Boucard (undisclosed), K Caden Chittenden (undisclosed), OL Kilian O’Connor (undisclosed).
Northwestern: OUT: CB J.J. Lewis (undisclosed), LB Yannis Karlaftis (undisclosed), DL Dylan Roberts (undisclosed), RB Cam Porter (lower body); QUESTIONABLE: LB Lincoln Creager (undisclosed), WR Braden Blueitt (undisclosed), OL Jace Borcherding (undisclosed), WR Tate Crane (undisclosed), LB Christian Smith (undisclosed), DL Braxton Strong (undisclosed), DL Migo Jackson (undisclosed), CB Ore Adeyi (undisclosed), WR Cam Russell (undisclosed), WR Carson Grove (undisclosed).
What’s at stake? November is bowl eligibility season, and these teams are thinking about their postseason futures through different lenses. There’s more at stake for USC, which is on track to earn a College Football Playoff bid if it can win out the final four games. The CFP committee released its first rankings of the season Tuesday; USC was No. 19. As far as bowl eligibility, ESPN’s experts are projecting the Trojans to play in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30 in San Antonio or the Holiday Bowl on Jan. 2 in San Diego. Northwestern is projected to play in the Dec. 26 Rate Bowl in Phoenix against Baylor.
Who’s better? This was already one of the most winnable games on the Trojans’ Big Ten slate, and the odds only increased in their favor when Northwestern lost leading rusher Cam Porter due to a season-ending leg injury in Week 2. Don’t expect a cakewalk, though. USC’s explosive offense will need to return to form after last week’s season-low passing performance in defeating Nebraska against a Wildcats defense that allows roughly 165 yards through the air per game.
Matchup to watch: USC’s linebackers vs. Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone. The win in Nebraska was the Trojans’ highest-graded defensive performance by Pro Football Focus since Week 3 at Purdue and two out of the three highest-graded players were linebackers Eric Gentry and Desman Stephens II. Their ability to get to Stone and force turnovers will be key, since all three of Northwestern’s losses have come when Stone has thrown multiple interceptions.
USC wins if: The Trojans need a complete-game effort from the offense and defense to keep this from turning into a trap game, with Iowa coming to town next Saturday. The defense finally clicked last week against Nebraska, but quarterback Jayden Maiava (9 of 23, 135 yards, no touchdown, one interception) had his worst passing performance of the season. Solid performances from both sides will not only earn the win, but set the Trojans up for success the rest of the season.
Prediction: USC 41, Northwestern 28. The Trojans find balance in offense, defense and special teams as they charge toward a playoff bid.
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