64 thoughts on “USC-Utah Pick The Score”

  2. Scottie, I will go with “inspired performance”: Trojans 31, Utes 27

    Pendergast has to deliver a D that can get some 3 and outs.

    (Or it could be a blowout with the Utes winning, don’t want to think about that)

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    1. If USC isn’t ready (at home & with all their talent) to play a team that embarrassed, insulted and beat them up last year, they might not win another game this season. I think USC will make a game of it —-and fall just short or win outright. It’s time to see a Helton coached team not blow it at the end of the game with outrageously dumb penalties (Cal last year, BYU last week) and counter intuitive playcalling. The Air Raid will do us just fine if (1) Slovis doesn’t lock on receivers (at least pump once before you throw every so often, Kedon) and (2) we unleash Stepp (a block or two upfront won’t hurt —but that might be asking too much) 15-20 times.
      #Helton:Don’tLetCarrPutKedonIn3rd&Long…..

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      1. Michael, I suspect it could be a blowout, but I just don’t want to accept that Utah will beat SC at home. That just shouldn’t happen.

        As you point out, I hope the game plan is different than last week.

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      2. Like a whole bunch of Stepp as you’ve been talking about…and then to see the coaching staff show mental agility and adjust before adjustments are a desperation measure (ie use your best player, catch the other side off balance hopefully, then once having forced them to adjust, surprise them again by beginning to mix in quick passes, say both to the slot receivers and Carr out of the backfield…and maybe a crossing pattern or to instead of the 50/50 fly lobs)…

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    2. James —One thing I’ve noticed over the years about what OTHER teams do when they use their slot receivers and backs on passing plays —they block for them. It seems like a good idea. Wonder if it’s something we should adopt….
      #…MightAddAFewYards…

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      1. yes, you either block…or accomplish the same with play design (to include how it is sequenced off of other plays – Coach Hyde’s “series” theme, which he is 100% right about)…enough motion and movement by surrounding players to get playmakers in space for short, quick throws.

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      3. It’s all about matchups, and getting playmakers into space…

        Lots of ways to skin that cat (one of the great luxuries not often noted as a USC fan over the years is that we’ve seen all of them, since during the good times other teams would try almost anything)…

        Everything in football, in essence, is about the offense forcing defensive overcommitment to space the offense doesn’t intend to attack…if unable to take a more physical approach (ie clearing the space by force).

        It’s why football was more or less evolved to be a game form of military tactics (which are very similar), at least that’s what I think is the case.

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      4. James — Very smart “captain” outlook — really wish we had some “generals” that thought that way…..
        #…In&OutOfFootball

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      6. James —Hopefully, Sam has learned the value of self censorship. (You don’t have to share every keen insight — with press, at board meetings, when asked your opinion by employers, etc.)……..
        #MakeThatEspeciallyWhenAskedYourOpinionByEmployers….

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    1. James — You are probably right….but I’m taking a “I won’t believe USC will lay down and die at the Coliseum” attitude …. until they prove otherwise.
      In other news, I understand that Folt wore a sexy little cheerleader outfit to her ‘I’m your new President’ ceremony today —- yelling “football, football, football —it’s all that matters!”
      #OffToAGoodStart

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      1. Could be, but as always, it’s not that the horses aren’t there to achieve a different outcome…just a matter of whether the coaches give them a reasonable chance to turn it into a matchup of the players abilities…

        I’ve focused on the long-term (ie taken positions with the view of what leads to Helton’s ouster), and you and MG and some others, to your credit, have focused on what can the players do to win this week and salvage…something…so if there’s a way to see Stepp and the receivers dancing in the end zone, I will never be unhappy to see that (provided it’s not the “well, we went 8-4 with a loss in the Cheez-It Bowl to Nobody Tech…let’s give him another year…”)…

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      2. James —YOU can really help today’s effort by separating all the old Pete Carroll issues of Sports Illustrated from any issues that mention the name Helton…..
        #..HeltonIssuesNeedTobeRemovedFromRoomW/TV..
        #CarrollIssuesNeedToBePlacedOnTopOfTV…..

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      3. 67 — A loss that’s worse than anything Vegas envisions would be hard to stomach (and I don’t expect that). But IF it happens, there will be a silver lining……
        #…AndIThinkYouKnowWhatI’mTalkingAbout…
        #…PagingUrbanMeyer!PagingMr.Meyer!IsMr.MeyerInHouse?”

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      4. Knew there was a reason why carrying on this running Cicero-Atticus like correspondence with you (and the others) was not only enjoyable, but intrinsically right!

        Of course, all of the hard copies are from the good old days…and the only online image I need (until … cough … the time comes … cough … soon) for now is Wolf’s recurring use of his favorite Clay image (you know the one I mean)…

        On the good old days…this week pulled down copy of SI featuring the NFL conference championships and Rose Bowl from January 1980…the USC comeback over Ohio State of course is the primary interest (and not McKay’s quarterback-less loss to the Rams)…but what I also always loved about that issue is the cover of LC Greenwood (and those yellow shoes) saying “LA – You’re Next”…

        USC had that same dominance and physical, nasty attitude (as exemplified by how that Rose Bowl was decided, in the final few minutes, by White running behind that line of monsters)…

        Can’t wait until we get it back.

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      5. James —Yes, I know “the photo” of Clay you’re referring to. Scott is a very bad boy for running it to the point it is forever etched in every Trojan’s memory bank. When Clay thinks about HIMSELF it is the image he sees. So it’s having a bit of a voodoo effect.
        Fun Fact: If you were to watch—-frame by frame — a video of Meyer or Saban or Carroll on the sidelines, you could not find a single frame of them looking that lost.

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      6. Yeah
        You see steely concentration and intensity
        And then a brief burst of exultation at the moment of victory
        #Isn’tThatWhatProperCoachesAreSupposedToLookLike?
        #Pete/UrbanOrClay-WhoRemindsYouMoreOfLombardiShulaLandry?

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      8. MG
        The ’70s was the Golden Age of football to me…so many great teams and players and just the right balance of offense/defense, pass/run…
        Those Steelers have a wing in Canton to themselves…
        Remember them in SI for that cover, and the story from earlier that same season, with the equally provocative title “Curtain Call,” when they essentially ended Roger Staubach’s career with yet another beating of the Cowboys.

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      10. So you’re saying there aren’t likely to be any famous quotes attributed to this era of USC football about winning (Lombardi had so many of them)?

        #WinningIsn’tEverythingIt’sTheOnlyThing-ExceptWhenItIsn’t
        #WinningIsn’tASometimesThingIt’sAnAllTheTimeThing-ExceptWhenItIsn’t

        There we have it – that’s his epithet…

        “…Except When It Isn’t…”

        #EvenOwnsPresumablyApproves

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      11. James — may I say something particularly politically incorrect? The players you referenced were the real deal. Real M-E-N. Helton could learn a lot by studying what made them the MEN they were. (Arturo I’m sorry).
        #….HopeICanSomedayBeForgivenForMyMostMasculinelyToxicPost

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      13. James —One thing about Scott —anytime he puts ANYTHING in the blender he hits the Max button…..
        #ScottPutBlueTapeOver”Mild”ButtonBackIn2000Season

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      16. Blustering snarky fan of ranked team…

        #ThisIsWhatCornwallisMustHaveFeltLikeAtYorktown
        #TheWorldTurnedUpsideDown
        #WillBeCheeringForYouToKeepItUpAgainstSEC

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      2. gt — My guess is that after the umpteenth remark about his wife and daughter, Pudly decided “what’s the use?” But I hope he comes around to Scott’s & my way of thinking (i. e., “gee, it’s fun to have people hate you”)…..
        #”Ah!AnotherEnemy!”—-Cyrano

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    2. Stop crying for that a## packer, Pudly. He talks more junk and drops more insults than anyone here. Besides, until Helton is fired, the curse of Pudly will continue to doom SC.

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      1. Thank God. Throw away the key on that sick f##k. I heard he was still wearing his ice cream man costume when he was taken into custody.

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      1. My dear Owns–
        For some reason, I had a feeling you’d be fetched by Smacky’s take on things… I have confidence that USC will put 11 men on the field ….93 -96% of the time……
        #AsBaxterSez:”YouCan’tExpectPerfectionInTheMaterialUniverse”…..

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    1. I don’t pretend to know the outcome — but your prediction seems a bit extreme…
      #WhatDoYouKnowThatLasVegasDoesn’t?

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      1. MG, Vegas loves to give the rah-rah’s, pimps and fat cats sweet hope to give the bozos more time to throw away their $$$$$$ chasing a hopeless Clown U victory.

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      3. You did see the BYU game correct ??? Even accounting for the home field advantage ?? Utah is light years better than the cougs.
        If we get down early… Oh boy watch out, could be game of thrones style wedding.

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  8. Another tough game to predict…not because of the opponent, but because I can’t have two things at once…I want Helton, the”Air Raid,” the “the Flying Wedge” and his entire coaching staff gone. Still it’s hard to root against the team I’ve pulled for for over 55 years. Utah wins for the first time at the Coliseum, 31-16.

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  9. According to Urban Meyer, Utah is the only school in the PAC 12 to have lineman comparable to the SEC. So if they come to play, then the score will be lopsided. The common opponent is BYU, but the 30-12 score doesn’t really indicate anything. So I would imagine the Utes have a better pass rush, but USC has speed .. It’s a toss up 😂

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  10. Look, LeBron and Co. are about to take the floor, the 2 NFL teams in town are already playing and the Dodgers look like they might be setting up to lose another World Series. The point is that it’s time for the Trojans to put on a show, act like they want to be on the stage and can handle the glare of the limelight here in Tinsel Town. That limelight can either exalt you or expose you. This team has been entrusted with a legacy that they aren’t upholding, and letting Utah come in here and get their first win in L.A will be a further erosion of that legacy. Maybe the current players are too young to know, but I would put together a documentary about USC football and show it to every current player and anyone who thinks they want to play for USC. Maybe they think USC football started with Reggie Bush and Matt Lienart. I would tell them that what they see in that film is what we expect from them and nothing less will do. Stop dropping the baton that has been passed to you and uphold the legacy that has been bequeathed to you. Where is the confidence and pride? Where is that USC SWAG? Tonight you will either prove you belong on that stage and in those colors or prove that you don’t. What’s it gonna be?

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    1. Actually, knowing Clay, I would prefer if someone just gave him a hard copy of Clay’s post and he read it verbatim to the team before the game, not changing or adding one word…..

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      2. Michael, I’m on the verge of asking for your Bar # as I find it increasingly hard to believe that you’re an attorney being as nice as you are. Thank you for the kind words and I hope you get an enjoyable game tonight.

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      3. Actually I wasn’t being nice, Clay —I would honestly like to see that speech given to this team 2 minutes before they take the field…..
        #AndDeliveredWithThePassionThoseWordsDeserve….

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  11. Football a physical sport that is played at many levels.
    Utah excels at the physical part and is in the top 10,headed towards the Big Boys.
    SC excels at practicing in shorts,is not ranked at all,headed towards the peewee lg.
    Utah has a head coach that enjoys smash mouth football.
    SC plays hellton ball…spends it time getting smashed by real football teams.
    SC is growing tired of hellton ball finally , and this game and the next two will put an end to hellton ball…Utah wins easily unless their q/b is injured,he runs that offense like Jack or Matt would if they could play…but then SC would win ’cause they can run and pass….woulda’,coulda’,shoulda’ Utah 45 SC 24

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    1. Can’t argue with one word of that great breakdown, Tim…..
      #ButIStillHoldOutHopeThatUSCCanPlayTeamFootball…
      #…ForONEGame….

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  12. I have never picked against SC until today. Utah is too strong and SC is too weak.

    Hence, Utah 31
    SC 17

    Sad, but probably true.

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  13. Utah 35-10 SC
    Utes will drop back 8, and SC will not be able to run…
    Clancy will not pick this game to coach…
    Baxter will get 10 men on the field…yet again
    arghhh…. next year can’t come soon enough
    curse Swan for letting Helton remain…

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