Syracuse Orange vs. USC Trojans: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis

USC 38 - Syracuse 17 Final

With the temperature expected to be in the upper 60s at game time, it should be a fantastic evening for football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Syracuse and USC have only met twice in their storied history, with USC winning both times.  However, Syracuse comes into the Coliseum determined to change that.

Syracuse brings with them a perfect 2-0 record for the first time since 1999, and they would love nothing better than to leave with their first 3-0 start since 1991. 

However, USC will surely have something to say about that. The Trojans are also 2-0 and looking to make it three straight. They are a two-touchdown favorite, but have had difficulty the last two years beating the spread.

So far this season, the USC offense has disappointed. In both their previous games, the Trojans offense has sputtered in the second half, scoring only one touchdown total. Lane Kiffin hopes his mistake-prone offense will finally step up this evening against a relatively inexperienced defense, or the Syracuse offense could steal this one away.

Syracuse has had to come from behind in both of their games. In their season opener, they found themselves down by 15 points in the fourth quarter. Ryan Nassib, the Orange quarterback, led the comeback to tie Wake Forest and then grab the victory in overtime, 36-29.

However, last week the Orange barely beat the University of Rhode Island Rams, 21-14. In both games, Nassib got off to a slow start but finished strong.   

USC’s junior quarterback Matt Barkley, a third-year starter, has done just the opposite. He started off strong but has faded along with the entire offense in the second half.

Although both schools will rely heavily on the arms of their quarterbacks, in the past Syracuse and USC have been known for their traditions of great Pro Hall of Fame and Heisman running backs.

Names like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka and Joe Morris from Syracuse, and Sam Cunningham, Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen, Charles White and Anthony Davis from USC, have thrilled both college and pro football fans alike.

Senior running back Marc Tyler hopes to continue that tradition for USC today when he meets his Syracuse counterpart, Antwan Bailey.

Once the game gets underway, I will have updated highlights, analysis and commentary.