USC Football: Game-by-Game Predictions for the Month of November

Traditionally, USC football has flourished in the month of November. 

The Trojans went a remarkable 27-0 in Novembers from 2001 through 2008, ran the table to close out 2011 and rebounded from a dismal 2012 November to go 4-1 in the month a year ago. 

This season, USC's hope of winning the Pac-12 South and earning the program's first berth into the conference championship game is contingent on duplicating past November success. 

USC plays twice in the Coliseum and twice on the road to cap off the season but leaves Los Angeles just once in November. The sole excursion from the Southland is USC's next date and the program's first trip to Washington State since 2010. 

A Thursday night date with Cal follows, then the every-other-year tradition of USC playing back-to-back rivalry tilts finishes head coach Steve Sarkisian's first season at the helm.

Nov. 1 at Washington State

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Washington State's high-powered passing attack can turn any game into a shootout. Last year's 10-7 Cougars win at USC notwithstanding, shootout is indeed the direction in which most games involving Washington State go. 

Behind Connor Halliday—the nation's leader with 3,833 passing yards and 32 touchdowns—Washington State averages 35.3 points per game. 

Halliday isn't just putting up monster numbers, either. He's also done so with panache.  

"

You probably missed this ridiculous TD throw by Connor Halliday last night http://t.co/A56O824NFS 2nd angle https://t.co/D33x7SwQOm

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) October 11, 2014 "

So with USC's next opponent scoring at such a prolific clip, does Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler feel pressure to score on every drive when he visits the Palouse? 

"You want to score on every possession anyway, obviously," quarterback Cody Kessler said after USC's practice at Howard Jones Field Tuesday.  

Fair enough. Kessler will certainly have that opportunity, as Washington State comes into Saturday's contest allowing more points than it produces. 

The Cougars rank No. 117 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 38 points per game. In their most recent outing, they allowed 59 points to Arizona. 

After the physicality of USC's Week 9 loss at Utah, in which both teams scored just two offensive touchdowns, expect the Trojans to find the end zone more easily at Washington State.  

Prediction: USC 45, Washington State 31

Nov. 13 vs. Cal

Stephen Lam/Getty Images

The last time Cal beat USC was 2003 in a 34-31 overtime thriller, which effectively kept the Trojans out of that season's BCS National Championship. 

Cal is apparently still paying the tab on that one, because it's largely been dominated in the series in the decade since

Year 2 under head coach Sonny Dykes has seen the Golden Bears turn a corner more so than his trying debut campaign. Cal heads into November having already quadrupled its win total from 2013 and sitting just six points shy of bowl eligibility.

The Golden Bears dropped heartbreakers to Arizona and UCLA by four and two, respectively. The former came in an especially gut-wrenching manner with which USC faithful can relate.  

"

RT! Arizona scores 36 points in the 4th quarter and beats Cal with a last-second Hail Mary https://t.co/Yr0OioBMxQ

— Arizona's Finest (@AzFinestMixtape) September 21, 2014 "

"

Arizona State beat USC on an Hail Mary! https://t.co/t5QxX6eSyi

— Sports Talk™ (@CrossCourtST) October 5, 2014"

Don't expect the Trojans to commiserate with their visits to the Coliseum on this Thursday night, however. USC will be more focused on doing what it can to keep Cal quarterback Jared Goff from throwing his own touchdown bombs. 

Goff ended October with 2,842 yards, 26 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He operates with one of the deepest receiving corps in the Pac-12, headlined by star Bryce Treggs. 

Much like Washington State, however, Cal's defense has been as porous as the offense has been explosive. Opponents average more against the Golden Bears—41 points per game—than any other Pac-12 defense, including the Colorado team on which USC dropped 56. 

Prediction: USC 42, Cal 31

Nov. 22 at UCLA

Harry How/Getty Images

The Crosstown Showdown has taken on a decidedly different feel since head coach Jim Mora's arrival at UCLA.

Bruins linebacker Myles Jack—who played a key role in handing USC its only November loss of 2013 last year—told me in April that he was seeing more UCLA football gear pop up around the city. 

New-found pride in UCLA football is understandable, considering the Bruins have one more win over USC in Mora's brief tenure than they scored from 1999 through 2011.

Dominance of Los Angeles has gone through cycles. While USC owned the 2000s, UCLA controlled the 1990s with eight straight wins in the decade. So are the Bruins destined to command the 2010s?

A third consecutive UCLA win might give that impression, and the home-standing Bruins are likely to be favored in this year's contest. This year's is arguably the most talented of Mora's teams, and UCLA could have Pac-12 South implications still at stake when the Trojans invade the Rose Bowl. 

Still, UCLA has underachieved and limps into November with two October losses and a sluggish win at divisional cellar-dweller Colorado. The Bruins may be the only Pac-12 members more difficult to get a bead on from week to week than USC.

One consistent for both teams is running back play. Javorius "Buck" Allen and Paul Perkins are currently first and second among all Pac-12 ball-carriers.  

Quarterbacks Brett Hundley and Kessler have at times been stellar, but also been prone to lulls. 

On defense, one would be hard-pressed to find a Pac-12 pairing with as much NFL potential on the field at one time as these two teams. 

Opinion on this matchup is fluid and could certainly change if one or the other demonstrates more consistency. But if the two played Nov. 1, I like USC's chances of snapping the losing streak. 

Prediction: USC 31, UCLA 28 

Nov. 29 vs. Notre Dame

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USC-Notre Dame is among the most storied rivalries in college football, and deservedly so. The programs have combined to produce 14 Heisman Trophy winners—seven apiece—and 24 national championships. 

The Fighting Irish harbored national title aspirations upon their last visit to the Coliseum in 2012 and could be similarly in line for a College Football Playoff berth in this go-around. 

USC's own national championship prospects evaporated, but denying Notre Dame its dream is a consolation prize of sorts. 

Doing so means containing Heisman hopeful quarterback Everett Golson, a dangerous dual-threat playmaker who has passed for 1,996 yards and 19 touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 239 yards and four scores. 

When Golson isn't firing, Notre Dame can rely on an outstanding defense. The Irish currently rank No. 12 in the nation against the run, allowing just over 101 yards per game. 

Notre Dame's defensive front against USC's Allen is Thanksgiving weekend dessert for lovers of smashmouth football. 

Such will be the tone of the regular-season finale: physical football reminiscent of USC-Notre Dame encounters of old. And speaking of throwbacks, the Irish are well positioned to run off their first three-game win streak over the Trojans since 1991 through 1993.  

Prediction: Notre Dame 24, USC 20 

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics via CFBstats.com.