USC Football: Staff predictions for USC Trojans vs. Utah Utes

The USC Football team only held on to its ranked title for one week and now comes up against a quality ranked opponent in Utah.

The USC Football Trojans had a shocking win in Week 2 over Stanford that catapulted the Trojans into the top-25. Freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis looked phenomenal and suddenly there was a lot of excitement around the Trojans.

They came back down to earth quickly as they lost last week on the road against BYU. Granted, BYU is a quality team and the Trojans only lost by an overtime field goal but that is a game that the Trojans have to win if they really want o put together a good run.

So while the Trojans’ Week 2 win was promising, maybe it was a case of Stanford being worse than we thought, not the Trojans being better.

We will see just how the Trojans stack up against a quality ranked opponent on Friday as they take on 10th-ranked Utah. Here is how the LA Sports Hub staff sees the game going down.

Jamaal Artis (3-3): 27-14, Utah

USC football fans must be counting the days when Clay Helton is not their coach. This Friday night against the Utah Utes might accelerate that process.

A week after losing an OT game against the Utes rival BYU, the Trojans have an even bigger task trying to beat the Utes at home. The Utes are favored to win the PAC-12 South division and are 3-0 including a win against BYU.

Trojans QB Kedon Slovis had a more difficult game than his debut, and it’s going to be harder on Friday.

Hil Lopez (2-3): 27-23, USC

USC will look to rebound from their latest game which was a heartbreaking loss to BYU on the road 30-27 in OT. They will take on Utah who so far is 3-0, but has yet to play a conference game yet.

USC will be led by backup QB Kedon Slovis who has played well but threw 3 interceptions in the last game, including the game-ender. In order for USC to win, Slovis will need to manage the game well and limit his mistakes.

With the Trojans at home, and motivated to redeem themselves, this will be a very close game in which Utah will get ahead early, but USC will ultimately come back and upset them 27-23.

Redan Lopez (3-3): 33-26, Utah

The No.10 Utah Utes come into the USC Coliseum hoping to finally beat USC on the road. Now could not be a better time as the Utes trying to keep winning to stay in the hunt for a National Championship. USC is coming off a bitter 30-27 overtime loss to the BYU Cougars after fighting to get the game extra time.

Both teams want to start of Pac-12 play with a win, but the Utes are the more physical team and could use this game as a tuneup to face other top-25 competition Washington and Washington State.

Although I think that USC will put a valiant effort in and have an early lead, the Utes will chargeback and dominate the Trojans with their physicality. The Utes will eventually overpower the Trojans and get the win.

Jason Reed (3-3): 30-16, Utah

I bought into the USC Football team after their win over Stanford after swearing up and down that this team is not as good as they good be, in large part due to Clay Helton. I think that Stanford game is one of those games that just happen in college football and is not indicative of the Trojans being able to beat ranked opponents.

Not only does Utah get the win but they get the win handily in front of the Trojans home crowd. Slovis will have the same struggles that he had in Week 3 as the Trojans will end up kicking three field goals with one touchdown.

USC is only three and a half point underdogs and I would hammer Utah -3.5. Actually, I am in Vegas and might just do that.