Trojans Enter Dawg Pound

The Trojans venture up north to rainy Seattle to take on the Huskies in a match up of teams headed in opposite directions. After a couple of good wins, the Huskies have lost two straight to ranked teams (Ohio St. and UGLA). USC, on the other hand, is rounding into form with increasingly impressive victories. Here's how these two teams shape up:

Washington -

Offense: Redshirt Frosh QB Jake Locker is the straw that stirs the drink for the Huskies. An adept rusher (90+ yards per game), Locker ranks last in passing in the Pac 10 only completing 53% and has 6 INTs to go with 6TDs (four of those TDs coming last week vs. UGLA).

WR Marcel Reese is a huge target at 6'3, 240lbs, and RB Louis Rankin are the other players UW depends upon to make plays. UW really depends upon Locker to set the table with designed running plays, and then he'll suddenly step back and pass the ball displaying a strong arm (think a west coast version of Florida's QB Tim Tebow.)

Defense: The Huskies rush the passer well from the edge with two DEs Gunheim and Te'o Manheim ranking in the top ten in the Pac 10 in sacks (3 apiece). However, the already porous run defense may have to play without leading tackler LB E.J. Savannah who has suffered from shoulder/neck stingers lately.

The secondary has played pretty well overall - they rank second in the Pac 10 in pass defense. CB Roy Lewis is the anchor, but the other CB Vonzell McDowell is just a true frosh and was taken advantage of deep in their game with Ohio St.

Special Teams: What special teams? This unit for UW is horrible, ranking last or near last in every category of coverage, returns and kicking. The Huskies have put starting RB Rankin back on kickoff returns just to stop the bleeding there, as they have (4) fumbles by their return men.

USC -

Offense: The Trojans are starting to find some balance in their run/pass games. QB Booty is starting to find a rhythm with his WRs/TEs who stepped up big vs. Wazzu, and the RBs have been very solid all year. This game may see SC grind UW down on the ground because the Husky run defense is weak - giving up 175 yards per game.

The SC OLine has been feeding at the trough especially behind Byers, O'Dowd and Rachal. In the passing game, OTs Baker and Radovich will have to be quick and fundamentally sound, because the UW DEs come off the edge very well.

Defense: Here's the deal . . . play Husky QB Jake Locker like an RB initially. SC's DLine will have to be disciplined and stay in their lanes - especially the DEs (LoJack, Moore and Griffen) who need to keep outside containment on Locker. And of course, the LBs will need to drop in their lanes on the pass, with one eye on Locker leaving the pocket.

UW may try to come out throwing short passes (doesn't everybody) just to fool SC regarding Locker's rushing ability. But if SC can get an early lead, Locker will be forced to pass downfield, and that plays into the hands of the defense who will confuse Locker schematically and add to his rising INT total.

Special Teams: SC can make some hay here, as the UW kickoff man, Jared Ballman, is terrible. UW ranks last in kickoff coverage in the Pac 10 mainly because Ballman hasn't kicked the ball beyond the 15 yard line. Kickoff returner CJ Gable can expect at least one opportunity to break a big one in this game. SC's coverage units should be wary of new Husky KR man Rankin, as he is pretty fast.

Prediction Time:

USC - 45

UW - 7

Post your prediction below under the "Comments" link . . .