USC Football: 7 Games with Blowout Potential (Either Way) in 2011

In deliberating who the candidates were going to be for this slideshow, I was struck by the notion of how far the Trojans have already come since 2010.

Although most of the college football pundits believe that the Trojans' gains in 2011 will be modest, those who follow the program think those improvements could be dramatic.

Of course, much of that improvement depends on the play of two critical units: the offensive line and the linebackers.

Because so much has already been written regarding the question marks that surround these two units, this space will not go into the specifics about them.

What will be conjectured, though, is that if they play well, the Trojans have a chance to be special this year.

How special?

Enough to motivate a wistful slideshow hearkening back to recent years, when USC blowouts were commonplace rather an isolated occurrence.

If the Trojans are to take some teams behind the woodshed, these are the programs most likely to suffer that indignity...

Sept. 3: Minnesota

Unfortunately for the Gophers, they will be going through this year what the Trojans had to deal with last year.

Namely, they will be in the first year under coach Jerry Kill, who took over for Tim Brewster.

Like the Trojans of 2010, they will need time to adapt to Kill's system both on offense and defense.

Though the Gophers won't be running sophisticated packages early on, there is time needed to transition, so at least in the beginning, Minnesota will be trying simply to find its way.

Which is a tough thing to do in the Coliseum against a motivated Trojan team that will be looking to take its frustrations out on whomever stands in front of it.

Look for USC to rip Minnesota's heart out early and not let up until midway through the fourth quarter.

Sept. 17: Syracuse

This game was scheduled as a favor to former USC assistant athletic director Daryl Gross when he took over as athletic director for the Orange.

For years, Syracuse was a doormat in the Big East, but now it seems to have found some direction under head coach Doug Marrone, who led the Orange to an 8-5 record and a victory over Kansas State in something called the "Pinstripe Bowl."

In 2011, Syracuse will be led by quarterback Ryan Nassib, who had a nice year in 2011, and a set of quality receivers.

However, its defense will be replacing many parts, including its top two tacklers and both defensive tackles.

Playing at home, the Trojans will send the Orange back to New York in a beatdown that will make former Trojan Gross wonder what he did to encourage such brutality.

Oct. 1: Arizona

Yes, Arizona has a nice quarterback in Nick Foles and one of the conference's best receivers in Juron Criner.

But the Wildcats will also be working with an almost completely inexperienced offensive line (something the Trojans know a bit about) and a defense that also will feature an untested line, as well as a suspect secondary.

Look for the Trojans to dominate on both sides of the ball, and with Foles running for his life most of the afternoon, the Trojans should win easily at home.

Oct. 13: At Cal

The Trojans didn't enjoy many blowouts in 2010, but one of those elusive "easy" wins came against Cal at the Coliseum.

In a 48-14 win that wasn't as close as the final score might indicate, the Trojans had their way with Jeff Tedford's boys throughout the game.

Now Tedford will be breaking in a new(er) quarterback and will have to find a replacement for running back Shane Vereen, who has gone on to the NFL.

The Bears do have talent, but most of it is very young.

Cal will likely start at least a couple of true freshmen on defense, and its inexperience on both sides of the ball should result in a lopsided game in beautiful AT&T Park by the bay.

Nov. 5: At Colorado

In what might be a rare Trojan football game in the snow, it just won't matter, as USC should completely dominate the Buffs in Boulder.

Like Minnesota breaking in a new coach, so will Colorado as Jon Embree takes over for the underachieving Dan Hawkins.

But unlike the Gophers, who will be meeting the Trojans in their first game, at least the Buffs will have had a few tilts under their belts.

Colorado will be looking to quarterback Tyler Hansen to rescue a moribund offensive attack that features wide receiver Paul Richardson, the Buffs' best offensive player.

However, the Colorado secondary, ranked 110th in the nation last year, will start two new corners, and because of that, look for Matt Barkley to have a field day regardless of the weather.

Nov. 12: Washington

There may not be a game (excluding Notre Dame and UCLA) that the Trojans want to win more than this one against former USC assistant coach Steve Sarkisian and his Huskies.

After the Dawgs took it to the Trojans for the last two years, this game will mark the end of that modest winning streak.

And it will be done in dominating fashion.

With the departed Jake Locker now gone to the NFL, Washington will no longer be able to rely on any last-minute heroics to save the Huskies' day.

Instead, this game will feature a relentless Matt Barkley leading the Trojans to an offensive blowout in front of a rabid crowd, which will salivate at the onslaught.

The Trojans will start their own winning streak against their former coach.

Nov. 26: UCLA

You think it's tough going through what you are dealing with as a Trojan fan?

A disappointing 8-5 record, loss of scholarships, no postseason bowl game this year—think that is a rough row to hoe?

Try being a Bruin fan.

UCLA has been abysmal lately.

It was 4-8 last year and obviously did not go to a bowl game, and its recruiting class of 2010 was ranked somewhere between 50-100, depending on which recruiting service you use.

At least the Trojans had an excuse.

What's yours, Rick Neuheisel?

In this game, the only excuse "Slick Rick" will have is that the Trojans are just plain better than his Bruins.

UCLA has some good players, but not nearly enough to provide any sort of obstacle, as the Trojans defensive line will manhandle the Bruins' patchwork offensive line, creating a circumstance where the UCLA defense will just wear down after spending most of the day on the field.

At least UCLA fans will be able to celebrate a new era of Bruin football, as this loss is likely the last nail in Neuheisel's coffin.

Conclusion

So after choosing these seven games as possible blowouts, I had to ask myself if there were any others that might be blowouts (either way).

The answer is...maybe.

Despite Arizona State's vaunted defense, it can be scored upon.

What about Notre Dame?

Although it will be a historic road game played under the lights for the first time in South Bend, I remain unconvinced as to just how good the Fighting Irish will be in 2011.

Both Oregon and Stanford are games that can be won (especially Stanford at the Coliseum), but only by narrow margins.

The bottom line for the Trojans, though, is to just get the "W."

Blowouts are nice, but for this Trojan team, putting "notches" on the left side of the ledger is paramount.

I think I speak for most Trojan fans when I say that if USC outscores its opponents by 11 points en route to an undefeated season...well...

That would be just fine by them.