BSD Staff Predictions Roundtable: USC

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Following an embarrassing rout at the hands of Northwestern, the team is back at home for a White Out game against #19 USC. How does the staff see this one playing out?

Chris

I thought the offense had hit rock bottom in the second half of the Wisconsin game. I thought Northwestern’s run defense was so bad that the Lions could get things sorted out and get back to scoring points. I was wrong. Things are much worse than I’d originally feared, and I don’t see things getting better any time soon unless Matt Campbell makes some hard decisions regarding personnel.

The offense finally puts some points on the board, but if there’s one thing USC can do, it’s score. Given the apparent ineptitude of the defense, things don’t go particularly well for the good guys 3 weeks in a row.

USC 35, Penn State 20

Lando

Screw it.

Penn State 35, USC 28

Eli

Maybe Matt Campbell is the Anti-James Franklin, and he needs opponents to be ranked in order to beat them. We’ll see!

Penn State 56, USC 17

Bennett

Pat and I have noted on the Podcast (please like and subscribe) that this Penn State team has a little bit of a 2010 vibe to it. That year, Penn State was 4-3 entering a big Saturday night matchup with Michigan in October. That year, a Lion offense that had looked listless in blowout losses to Iowa and Illinois, suddenly came to life in a 41-31 win against a 5-2 Michigan group that was all offense. And that year proved to be the end for Rich Rod in Ann Arbor. There’s similar hotseat talk with Lincoln Riley in Los Angeles. But THIS year, I just think the Penn State’s talent level is too low for any of this to make a difference.

USC 34, Penn State 20

Colin

This might be the most rancid vibes for a White Out game that I can ever remember. Back to back ugly losses have our Nittany Lions reeling and searching for answers on both sides of the ball. If there is ever a time to make a statement this season and stop the bleeding, it is now. USC is vulnerable and scraped by a mediocre Washington team at home. Lincoln Riley’s road struggles are well-known as well.

Penn State should at least be able to keep this one close, but I am not sure the offense has enough with Koby Howard still sidelined, even against a weak USC defense. If the Trojans get out to a quick lead, this could go south fast.

USC 31, Penn State 17

Jared

(First appearing in the Game Preview)

Maybe Penn State is able to prove they are better than the team we’ve watched in the last two weeks. Maybe there are some quick fixes to set things right. But for now, it appears the Nittany Lions are lost and searching for answers that may never come. It could be this team just isn’t good enough to beat a quality opponent.

Penn State will likely come out fighting and be boosted by the White Out crowd. However, my prediction comes to one simple fact – USC’s offense can move the ball. Penn State still hasn’t proven they can do so.

USC 27, Penn State 17

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