2014
USC Trojans
College Football
Betting Preview
Schedule and Odds
Steve Sarkisian enters his first season with USC and the expectations couldn’t be bigger. While the Trojans don’t exactly have national title contenders written on them, this is a squad that should cause problems for a lot of the top-ranked teams. Unfortunately for the Trojans, they have to travel to Stanford and UCLA this season.
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As a team, they return 16 starters, which include Cody Kessler, who’s back for his second season as the full-time starter. He was fairly successful last year, but struggled mightily in the team’s Four losses. Marqise Lee is gone, but he was also hurt a lot last year. Nelson Agholor (918 yards, 6 TDs) filled in nicely and should see bigger numbers this year along with Darreus Rogers.
The running Game didn’t lose much either with Javorius Allen (14 TDs) and Tre Madden back in action. Allen ran well in the second half of last season and eventually won the team’s offensive MVP award. The right side of the offensive line is a bit young, and could be problematic against bigger teams like Stanford. With an improved Kessler, this should be an improved offense, as long as the Sarkisian no-huddle, pro-style offense works out.
USC’s defense is also working a new system, their third defense in as many years to be exact. Once LAne Kiffin got the boot, the defense played a lot more consistently, although they did get thrashed by UCLA at home.
The Trojans return eight starters from that group and could be even better this season. They have loads of talent with a number of guys being NFL prospects. Leonard Williams is an absolute beast at tackle, Hayes Pullard is a stud Four-year starting linebacker and is the leader of this unit and Su’a Cravens is already one of the best safeties in the Pac-12 as a sophomore. Their biggest questions come in the secondary, but freshman two-way player Adoree Jackson could get the start early on at CB.
Playing at Stanford in the second week of the season presents obvious problems, but the Trojans actually beat the Cardinal last year, albeit at home. That would be a huge win if they could pull it off. It could even propel them to at least a 5-0 record if all goes well. Road Games in the middle of their Schedule against Arizona, Utah and Washington State won’t be easy tasks, but are ones they should win.
If USC can make it to the final two Games with only one or two losses — which is very possible — expect some fireworks. They close at UCLA and against Notre Dame, two rivals that they have lost two straight Games against. Playing at the Rose Bowl will be tough, but it could end up deciding the Pac-12 South division. And the Notre Dame Game could even have national implications.
2014 USC Trojans Football Schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Fresno State
Sept. 6 at Stanford
Sept. 13 at Boston College
Sept. 27 vs. Oregon State
Oct. 4 vs. Arizona State
Oct. 11 at Arizona
Oct. 18 vs. Colorado
Oct. 25 at Utah
Nov. 1 at Washington State
Nov. 13 vs. California
Nov. 22 at UCLA
Nov. 29 vs. Notre Dame