USC vs. Arizona: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
Just as anyone would have predicted, the USC Trojans are unranked as they head to Tucson for a clash with the lone undefeated team in the Pac-12, the No. 10 Arizona Wildcats.
Despite the presence of a freshman quarterback and running back, the Wildcats are one of the best teams in the nation, especially on the offensive side of the football, a notion exemplified by an upset of then-No. 2 Oregon last week in Eugene.
Meanwhile, Steve Sarkisian's Trojans are in a full tailspin, as the team cannot help but give up big play after big play. Two losses suggest gloom and doom for USC, although a routine win over Arizona would this time pay dividends.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
In one of Saturday's late contests, the Pac-12 as we know it will be on the line as the roles of two annual contenders are flipped. Will it yield the typical outcome?
Underdog With Bite
Not many people paid attention when Arizona mostly breezed through an opening slate that read UNLV, UTSA and Nevada. A few heads turned after a 49-45 win over California, but still, these Wildcats were too young, too inexperienced and would fold against traditional conference powers.
Except they didn't. In Oregon last week, the Wildcats defense held Oregon to a 4-of-14 mark on third down and got a late strip while the offense held the ball for more than 33 minutes to get the 31-24 victory.
Freshman running back Nick Wilson ran for 92 yards and a pair of scores on a ridiculous 7.1 yards per carry, bumping him to 574 yards and six scores on the season. Freshman quarterback Anu Solomon was a tad quieter, but he has completed 63.6 percent of his passes this season to go with 1,741 yards and 14 touchdowns to four interceptions.
The mad genius behind the program's turnaround despite the young status of key players? Rich Rodriguez, of course, who is in the midst of a bit of a career renaissance himself. The innovator of a quick-twitch attack believes his team is mature enough to not suffer a letdown against USC, as recorded by STATS LLC, via ESPN.com:
"I was impressed with our players' attitudes going into the game and afterward. We celebrated in the locker room a little bit and then got on the plane. Maybe because it was so late, five minutes after takeoff it was silent. Our guys have the ability to focus quickly. I think they know how important this game is as well.
"
Now for the fun wrinkle to Saturday's encounter: The No. 10 team, which just won in Oregon and is at home for this one, isn't the favorite.
Nothing like a little disrespect to motivate one of the most explosive teams in the land.
Defensive Woes
The USC offense has gotten by. Simple as that. Cody Kessler has been ho-hum under center, throwing for 1,380 yards and 10 touchdowns to no interceptions to lead an offense that ranks No. 55 in the nation while scoring an average of 33.0 points per game.
The defense has been a mess.
USC seems to enjoy giving up the big play. In a laughable 37-31 loss to Boston College earlier this season, the Eagles scored on plays of 25, 54 and 66 yards.
It was certainly not an isolated incident. USC defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox summed it up in an apt manner, as captured by Michael Lev of the Orange County Register:
Last week, in a loss to Arizona State, the unit allowed scoring plays of 21, 77 and 73 yards before a game-winning Hail Mary connection that spanned 46 yards. Many will point out that the Sun Devils only found room for 31 rushing yards, but backup quarterback Mike Bercovici threw for 510 yards and five scores.
Against an offense that makes a living off the big play, Wilcox better have the holes in his unit properly patched in a hurry.
When: Saturday, October 11, 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Television: ESPN 2
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 68
- Spread: USC (-3)
Team Injury Reports
| Jordan Austin | OL | 08/15/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | hip |
| Kenny Bigelow | DT | 07/09/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Victor Blackwell | WR | 09/06/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | personal |
| Anthony Brown | RB | 08/28/2014 | has left the team | Out | personal |
| Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick | TE | 08/07/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | academics |
| Lamar Dawson | LB | 08/26/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | knee |
| Ajene Harris | WR | 10/05/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Arizona | Questionable | hamstring |
| Tre Madden | RB | 10/05/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Arizona | Questionable | toe |
| D.J. Morgan | RB | 09/16/2014 | has left the team | Out | personal |
| Khaliel Rodgers | G | 10/05/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Arizona | Questionable | knee |
| Jabari Ruffin | LB | 08/11/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Josh Shaw | CB | 08/27/2014 | is suspended indefinitely | Suspended | disciplinary/legal/ankles |
| Jordan Simmons | G | 10/06/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Arizona | Questionable | knee |
| Randall Telfer | TE | 10/06/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Arizona | Questionable | undisclosed |
| Jacob Arzouman | OL | 08/28/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Jerod Cody | DE | 08/28/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | concussion |
| Brandon Dawkins | QB | 08/26/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | disciplinary |
| Dwight Melvin | DT | 08/26/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | academics |
Injury reports per Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
USC is groggy on the ropes. Having two losses and a .500 record at the halfway point of the season is very much a reality.
The Trojans are going to wind up eating the mat.
Arizona's offense it too potent and adaptable to what a defense brings to the table to struggle to move the ball, let alone score. Meanwhile, the USC defense annually suffers against read-option looks and clearly cannot prevent the big play.
For one reason or another, Arizona has been counted out again before taking the field. Clearly, that is just the way the Wildcats like to operate.
Prediction: Arizona 28, USC 24
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
