USC Recap: Loss to Stanford

Last Saturday night, the  un-ranked  Stanford Cardinal defeated the No. 6 USC Trojans in a 41-31 shootout contest.

This game was good as it always is. It lived up to the attention it received.

Unlike last year in a defensive battle where USC defeated Stanford 13-10, this year the game had more offense.

I do not know if either defense came to play that night.

That being said I did not like that their was a lack of defense.

If either team expects to make the College Football Playoffs or win the Pac-12 conference their defense needs to show up.

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The famous second half of Bear Bryant’s quote is true, in that “…defense wins championships.”

After this devastating loss to Stanford, USC dropped in the rankings drastically.

They dropped down to 19.

The good news for USC is this week they play the Ariozna St. Sundevils in Arizona.

They have really great percentage of winning that game.

I would give them a 65% chance to win.

This is because Arizona St. was ranked 15th in their season opener against the Texas A&M Aggies, who were unranked.

Now Arizona St. is still un-ranked even after winning two games. This is because they almost lost to Cal Poly San Louis Obispo and New Mexico St.

They escaped both games victorious.

USC is ranked No. 19, yet with playing this is Arizona St. team, who has come close to losing the last two games have a great chance of defeating them and moving back up in the rankings and shaking the Pac-12 conference as conference play starts.

However do not be suprised if Arizona St. pulls another miracle Hail Mary.

They did that last year; when they defeated USC 38-34 and Mike Bercovici came in that game being a backup.

He is now a starter, has some chemistry with most of the teammates but did lose wide receiver Jalen Strong to the Houston Texans in the NFL.

Arizona St. is in trouble losing to Texas A&M.

They can get out of it if they beat USC.

You would think losing to a non-conference team they would be okay to rise back up  in the rankings.

This is true, however, the team they lost to is in the SEC.

Granted they did not lose by much. It was a close game. Arizona St. can climb back up the rankings and make the playoffs is if they win the PAC 12 conference.

They way they have been playing lately that will not happen.

Defeating USC would help themselves in the Pac-12 race and more diminish USC’s chance at winning the conference dropping them some more in the rankings and bringing Arizona St back in the rankings.

USC and Arizona St. both have offenses that can put up numbers in games.

The question for both teams is defense.

Arizona St. defense hasn’t showed up every game until the 4th quarter. USC’s problem isn’t their defense.

They showed up the first two games. It showed up against Stanford also but they seemed to leave during the 4th quarter.

USC lost their leader on defense, Leonard Williams in the NFL draft to the New York Jets.

Someone on the defense needs to step up, be a leader and lead the defense.

When this happens, USC can win the Pac-12 and make the playoffs.

They proved they have offense and defense and  in time special teams and chemistry will come.

I think the problems USC needs to address are the defense playing a full game and special teams needs to make something happen.

Bottom Line: Defense is everything.

The way for USC  to continue winning and staying on track for  the playoffs and in the PAC 12 is if their defense from the first two games needs show up.

Yes, they did play teams from non-power conferences but still they need to show up.

If they do and Arizona St keeps playing the way their playing trying to win in the fourth quarter, USC can defeat Arizona St.