USC Football: Staff predictions vs. the Stanford Cardinal

After winning the first game of the season, the USC Football Trojans now have to host a ranked opponent in the Stanford Cardinal.

The USC Football Trojans started the 2019 NCAA season exactly how every team in the country wants to start: with a win. The only problem is that in that win the team lost their starting quarterback, JT Daniels, to an ACL and Meniscus tear.

Freshman Kedon Slovis was named the starting quarterback for the Trojans. Slovis was recruited out of Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, and was the 29th-ranked pro-style quarterback recruit, according to 247Sports.

An easy game in his first game would have been nice to potentially gain some momentum and get comfortable with the job. However, he is being thrown to the wolves, as USC hosts 23rd-ranked Stanford.

Here is how the LA Sports Hub staff sees the Week 2 matchup going between the two PAC-12 schools.

Jamaal Artis (1-1): 30-17, Stanford

USC has a home game against Stanford with a freshman starting quarterback after starter JT Daniels was lost for the season. Sorry Trojans fans, this is where things start getting difficult.

Stanford struggled in a win against Northwestern but it’s hard to trust a true freshman against this veteran Stanford defense. David Shaw 22-4 against the California schools in the PAC-12. His Stanford team will make it 23-4.

Hil Lopez (0-1): 23-17, USC

The Trojans will battle the 23rd ranked Stanford Cardinal in Week 2 of the nightcap of games. They overcame their loss of JT Daniels,  who tore his ACL and meniscus and won 31-23 against Fresno St.

This week they will battle Stanford, who won a defensive battle against Northwestern last week 17-7. However, they lost their QB, K.J. Costello, last game.

On the surface, if Costello does not play this game, then the game could be between two backup quarterbacks. USC will run the ball quite a bit in this game and they should control the clock. With the home crowd behind them, USC will upset the Cardinal 23-17.

Redan Lopez (2-0): 30-17, Stanford

Despite the loss of their starting quarterback JT Daniels due to an ACL injury, backup Kedon Slovis was able to hold down the fort with the aid of the USC run game led by Vavae Malepeai. Slovis is a wild card going into USC’s matchup with Stanford, and he will have his hands full. Unfortunately, I have a strong feeling he may feel the pressure and get knocked around by the Cardinals.

That being said, as long as the Cardinals can cause Slovis to make quick decisions, he will make mistakes. Slovis is a true freshman after all and does not have much experience anchoring the USC offense.

This game will show what it will be like for USC all season long – having to hold opponents down to low point totals while praying Slovis can maintain some resemblance of a passing attack that it had under Daniels.

The USC offense will sputter against the Cardinals with Slovis at the helm, and the Cardinals will take advantage of a tired USC defense.

Jason Reed (2-0): 27-10, Stanford

It is hard to see the USC Football Trojans doing enough offensively to get the win here. While the team was able to hold out without Daniels last week and can turn to a decent run game, it is not going to lead to very many points.

Stanford allowed the 17th-fewest yards in Week 1 (210) and last year ranked 41st in total points allowed per game (23.8).

We all remember last season when Stanford held USC to just three points. It will be a similar game for the USC Football team, except this time they will score a touchdown to go along with a field goal.

Jon Soden (0-0): 28-17, Stanford

The USC Trojans have a battle in store for them against the Stanford Cardinals this weekend.

While the Stanford defense is no powerhouse by any means, they will have the advantage due to the ACL injury of JT Daniels.

Kedon Slovis will have to take the chains of the offense. He has the potential to perform well, but, as seen with his critical interception last week, in the big moments that determine the outcome of the game, his lack of experience may prove fatal to the Trojans.

The Trojans will have to rely on a big game on the ground to be able to win this game.

Ultimately, this will be a defensive battle, that will come down to the wire.