Pac-12 Championship 2015: Stanford vs. USC Complete Game Preview
After a season of ups and downs and wild endings, Pac-12 football is right back to where it all began.
The first conference game of 2015 was Stanford’s come-from-behind (then) upset of USC in the middle of September, and perhaps fittingly, that’s where the league will conclude the year with Saturday’s Pac-12 Football Championship Game matchup between the Cardinal and the Trojans. While the game is what a lot of folks predicted—USC was the preseason favorite in the South, while Stanford was second in the North but considered a dark horse for the College Football Playoff—the ups and downs for each program in the ensuing three months made things all the more remarkable that each is squaring off with a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line.
While it may not be the most interesting title game during championship week, it could wind up being one of the more entertaining as David Shaw tries to keep the team’s thin playoff hopes alive and capture his third Pac-12 title in four years. On the opposite sideline, newly installed permanent head coach Clay Helton will look to prove doubters wrong right away and get the Trojans to an improbable Rose Bowl.
Date: Saturday, December 6
Time: 4:45 p.m. PT/7:45 p.m. ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium
TV: ESPN
Radio: Sirius/XM Ch. 93, ESPN 710 Los Angeles, KNBR 1050 AM in the Bay Area
Line: Stanford -4, according to OddsShark.com
Stanford Keys to Victory
1 of 5
Get Downfield Passing Game Going
USC’s secondary has played better as of late, but there’s little doubt the Trojans are still banged up on the back end. That could provide a big opportunity for Stanford to get the downfield passing game going as it did against Notre Dame last week in the memorable game on the Farm. Quarterback Kevin Hogan can be hit or miss with his deep passes, but with 6'3" or taller targets all over the board, chances are he can loosen up the defense with some shots downfield.
Feed McCaffrey
The Heisman Trophy is still up for grabs this week, and Stanford is no doubt aware that star tailback Christian McCaffrey could get an invite to New York for the award, if not win it with a big performance on a stage such as the Pac-12 title game. Expect the coaching staff to run McCaffrey quite a bit to not only get him some good numbers but also to control the clock and out-physical USC at the line of scrimmage.
Pressure Kessler
This isn’t the same Stanford defense we’re all used to seeing, but it’s still a quality group at all three levels. Still, if the Cardinal want to capture a second win over USC in the same season they’re going to have to dial up the pressure and make quarterback Cody Kessler uncomfortable in the pocket. The senior quarterback has had his moments under duress, but he’s not as accurate with a defender in his face, so pressure could lead to an increase in turnovers.
USC Keys to Victory
2 of 5
Run the Dang Ball
Whether it’s Justin Davis, Tre Madden or spectacular freshman Ronald Jones II, establishing the run has been key to USC’s success over the past several weeks on its way to an improbable Pac-12 South title. That will have to be the case again against a Cardinal defense that gave up 8.5 yards per rush last week against Notre Dame. Things will open up considerably for the offense if the offensive line can open up some holes and the tailbacks can turn them into big gains.
Feed off the Emotion
This is USC’s first trip to the Pac-12 title game, and it’s the team's first game period since Clay Helton was named permanent head coach. While the fanbase may not be excited about the hire, the players are and need to feed off that emotion and channel it into their effort.
No Turnovers
Possessions should be at a premium in a game that has the potential to be a shootout. USC has generally held onto the ball as of late, but that will need to continue with a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line. That’s especially true of senior quarterback Cody Kessler, who hasn’t been quite as accurate this year but needs to play just about perfect to upset the Cardinal.
Stanford Players to Watch
3 of 5
RB Christian McCaffrey
You could call McCaffrey the best player in the country, and only a handful of Alabama, Oklahoma and Florida State fans may be able to put up a good argument against you. That’s how good the multipurpose star has been on the Farm this year, and you can expect that to continue at Levi’s Stadium. Whether it’s on kick returns or running the ball, few players are as fun to watch as the speedy tailback for the Cardinal.
QB Kevin Hogan
Hogan’s time at Stanford has had its ups and downs, but the bottom line is he’ll leave school as the record holder in just about every major category for a quarterback. That’s over guys like Andrew Luck, John Elway and Jim Plunkett. Every play may not be a work of art, but when he scrambles or tosses a strike down the field, Hogan is at times a must-watch based on how he simply gets the job done.
LB Blake Martinez
The heart and soul of the Stanford defense, Martinez is a tackling machine who has helped bring down an opponent 121 times this season, the most in the Pac-12 by a decent margin. If it weren’t for Oregon’s DeForest Buckner being nearly unstoppable, Martinez likely would be named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He's a smart player with great instincts, so keep an eye on the linebacker if you want a clinic in how to play the position.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
USC Players to Watch
4 of 5
QB Cody Kessler
Kessler doesn’t get the publicity that his predecessors did, but he’s been the steady hand under center for USC during some turbulent times. An accurate passer, he is better moving around the pocket than some give him credit for, plus he’s quick to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers.
RB Ronald Jones II
When Jones is in the backfield, chances are it’s a run for the fabulous freshman. While that’s likely because he’s not quite up to par when it comes to pass protection or catching the ball, it's OK because of what he can do with the football. In terms of home run hitters, Jones is a threat to reach the end zone every time he touches the ball.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Despite playing with a broken hand lately, Smith-Schuster has topped the 1,300-yard mark this season and is seventh in the country in receiving. He makes routine plays look spectacular and spectacular ones look routine. He’s a matchup nightmare who you can’t leave one-on-one and is simply one of the most exciting players in the sport.
Prediction
5 of 5
This one has all the makings of…a repeat of earlier this year. Don’t be shocked at all to see USC jump out to an early lead on a couple of big plays as both teams feel each other out in the first half. Adjustments have been a hallmark of David Shaw-coached teams, however, so the Cardinal are the pick here, especially given their past experience at both Levi’s Stadium and in the Pac-12 title game.
And while both teams want to be physical at the line of scrimmage and win the point of attack, this has a chance to be a bit of a shootout given the defenses involved and the number of offensive playmakers who are a threat to score with every touch.
The Pac-12 title game may not have the playoff implications that the ACC Championship Game does, but it could be among the most entertaining contests with a healthy dose of big plays.
In the end, though, expect Stanford to emerge with yet another league title in similar fashion to its win earlier this season.
Prediction: Stanford 35, USC 31
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
