USC Football: Staff predictions vs. the BYU Cougars

After defeating the ranked Stanford Cardinal, the USC football team is now ranked and heads into Provo to square off with the BYU Cougars.

The USC football team shocked just about everyone last week when they defeated the ranked Stanford Cardinal to move into a ranked position of their own. Now, USC is ranked 24th in the country and has to head to Provo, Utah, to take on the BYU Cougars.

USC’s win was fueled by freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis, who took over for the injured JT Daniels and performed much better than people anticipated. Some say he was just the beneficiary of the offense, but Slovis looked pretty darn good.

This game is a bit of a warm of for the Trojans as they get ready to take on three ranked opponents following this, although BYU should not be slept on, especially at home. As a reader mentioned to us, it is no easy thing to play in Provo with a 4,500-foot elevation.

Here is how the LA Sports Hub staff sees Week 3 going down for the USC football team.

Jamaal Artis (2-2): 24-16, USC

USC goes on the road and they should be careful to not have a letdown against the BYU Cougars. BYU played their in-state rivals Utah tough the first game and then defeated Tennessee on the road in double overtime.

Freshmen Kedon Slovis has no time resting on his laurels after decimating Stanford. This will be his first road game and the Trojans will need him at his best.

The Trojans defense played a strong game against Stanford allowing them to only convert 4 of 11 third downs keeping their running game grounded with just 3.3 yds per attempt, they’ll need more of the same against BYU.

Hil Lopez (1-2): 27-23, USC

USC will take on BYU in week three in the young college football season. USC’s backup QB Kedon Slovis filled in well for injured QB J.T. Daniels as he threw for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns in a romping of Stanford last week.

BYU had to come back in their last game against Tennessee and escaped 29-26 on the road. Given that USC’s backup QB has gotten a game under his belt and looks to assert himself a bit more, this game will be very competitive and close.

Ultimately, USC will continue to surprise analysts and college pundits and pull out a surprise 27-23 victory on the road.

Redan Lopez (2-2): 38-21, USC

BYU barely squeaked by a struggling Tennessee Volunteer team win a 29-26 last week and was pummeled by a very good Utah Utes team two weeks earlier. It cannot be trusted.

Meanwhile, USC Freshman Quarterback Kedon Slovis has flourished since being thrown into full-time action. He went 28 for 33 with 377 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, leading USC to an easy 45-20 win last week against the Stanford Cardinals, a game which I thought was going to be down to the wire.

But I was wrong. USC has more talent and is more unstoppable after further examination.

While BYU has the capacity to pull upsets throughout the year because you simply do not know what you are going to get from, this game won’t be one of those. USC is the heavy favorite and will be triumphant by stopping BYU from doing much offensively.

Jason Reed (2-2): 20-14, USC

Do not expect this to be a pretty game for either side. Slovis has high expectations now but with a week of film on him and after shocking the world last week, he is bound for a natural decline. The elevation will get to him and his teammates, who will inch and claw their way to 20 points.

The defense will do enough to hold BYU to just two touchdowns and will come up with the stop in the closing moments of regulation as BYU attempts to drive down the field. It will not be that pretty but a win is a win, that is what is important for the USC football team.

Jon Soden (1-1): 24-17, USC

Following an impressive victory against Stanford, the USC Trojans go on the road to battle the BYU Cougars.  BYU is also coming off a solid win against Tennessee.

Freshman Kedon Slovis silenced a lot of critics and over-achieved in replacing JT Daniels, who is out for the season with an ACL injury.

In recent meetings, USC has gotten the best of BYU, and this game should be more of the same.  While both teams have similarities, the Trojans simply have more playmakers.

With a balanced attack, both offensively and defensively, the Trojans will be victorious against the Cougars with a score of 24-17.