USC-ARIZONA: Trojans Are Upset Bound For Tucson

Forget the 14-point spread in favor of USC for next Saturday’s game with Arizona. The only numbers you need to remember are 201-53 and 15-3.

Although the Wildcats have lost two games, 36-28 to New Mexico and 24-23 to Stanford, both loses were away. In Tucson, the Wildcats have been invincible so far this year winning all four games and outscoring their opponents 201-53.

Quarterback Willie Tuitama is a veteran senior who has full command of Mike Stoops’ offense and is one of the best quarterbacks in the Pac-10. He has thrown 15 TD passes to only three interceptions so far this season while Mark Sanchez has thrown three interceptions in just one game (Arizona State).

Last week, down 24-17 at halftime against Cal, the Wildcats held the Bears to just 3 points in the second half. Meanwhile, Tuitama led his offense on three touchdown drives, throwing two TD passes, one for 56 yards to Mike Thomas and another for 35 yards to Ron Gronkowski.

If Tuitama’s arm wasn’t concern enough for the Trojans, Arizona has a balanced attack with two very formidable tailbacks.

Nic Grigsby has 627 yards on 107 carries for a 5.9 average, and 100+ yards in three games.

Keola Antolin has rushed for 215 yards on 46 carries for a 4.7 average. However, last week against Cal, Antolin had a breakout game, rushing for 149 yards on 21 carries for 7.1 average and 3 TDs.

With Grigsby and Antolin, the Wildcats match up very well against the Trojans. If you remember the Oregon State game, it was a short, powerful running back with speed, Jacquizz Rogers, who did most of the damage against the Trojans.

Well, both Grigsby at 5-10, 178 and Antolin a 5-8, 180-pound freshman fit the Rogers mold that gave the Trojans such a difficult time in Corvallis.

Another number to remember is 69-0. The Trojans had an absolute walkover against Washington State. A setup game if ever there was one. The Cougars, unable to give USC any kind of test on either side of the ball, may have just setup the Trojans for a trap game against Arizona.

While USC had no competition, Arizona, on the other hand, fought from behind to knock off No. 22 California. So expect the Wildcats and their fans to be really fired up and give the Trojans all they can handle.

Tuitama, who has 140 completions in 215 attempts for over 1600 yards, will definitely test the USC secondary. But the real damage will most likely come at the line of scrimmage where Antolin and Grigsby can duck under the big guys up front and pound away with those seven and eight yard chunks like Jaquizz Rogers did in the Beavers 27-21 upset win over USC.

Even though the Trojans have the best scoring defense in the nation, I expect their string of 10 consecutive quarters without surrendering a score to end early and, more than likely, often. It will be up to Mark Sanchez and the USC offense to keep the pressure on the Wildcats defense and keep Tuitama and Company off the field.

Have the Trojans learned from their mistakes up in Corvallis? Maybe they have, but I feel that Mike Stoops and Tuitama are way overdue, and that Washington State fiasco has given the Trojans a false sense of superiority. Look out for the trap.

I will not be surprised if there is an upset in Tucson this weekend. In fact, I expect it.