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SALT LAKE CITY — My, oh my, what a week it was for Utah State in its week three matchup against Weber State.
The Aggies scored 70 points, Chuckie Keeton threw five touchdown passes in the first half and Utah State gained 578 yards of total offense.
To be honest, Weber State was never going to be much more for the Aggies than a tune-up for a game that could be a program-defining matchup: this week’s game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, playing the University of Southern California.
Utah State has gained national acclaim over the past few years, and a win in Los Angeles could make the Aggies the toast of the national press corp.
#USU
However, they have to face off against a Trojans squad that is coming off an impressive win over Boston College, 35-7. Also, the game finally helped establish a quality quarterback for USC, as Cody Kessler threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns.
Both Kessler and Max Wittek are decent but not great, and USC will not win a game on their arms. So, any team that wishes to beat USC has to force Kessler and Wittek to beat them by destroying the Trojans’ rushing attack.
Therefore, this week’s key matchup in the Utah State-USC game will be the matchup between the Utah State linebackers and the Southern California running backs.
Why this matchup?
USC’s quarterback play the first three weeks of the season has been inconsistent at best and anemic at worst.
Thus, it isn’t that hard to shut down a passing attack that ranks 104th in the country.
However, USC’s rushing attack has been respectable over the season’s first three games as the Trojans have averaged 196 yards on the ground. Against Boston College, USC rushed for 273 yards.
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013
- Kickoff: 1:36 p.m. (MT)
- Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
- Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (93,607)
- Series: Utah State trails, 0-4
- TV: ABC/ESPN2
- Radio: Utah State Sports Network
Utah State and USC will be meeting for the fifth time in series history this weekend, with USU holding a 4-0 all-time advantage. The first meeting between the two teams was on Sept. 29, 1928 in Los Angeles with the Trojans winning, 40-12. The last time the two teams played one another was on Sept. 16, 1989 in Los Angeles as USC won that game, 66-10.
It is expected that Utah State should be able to score against USC, even though its defense is ranked eighth in the nation for points against. Aggie fans shouldn’t expect 70 points, but the Utah State offense should have enough firepower to give USU a chance at victory.
So, Utah State has to stop the rushing attack and reduce the game into a duel of quarterbacks. It will be important for Utah State’s respectable defensive line to try to reduce the size of the hole so the linebackers can come up and deliver the blow.
Stopping the rushing attack forces Kessler and Wittek to beat the Aggies but it also will help cut down USC’s time of possession, giving Keeton more opportunities to prove himself truly Heisman-worthy.
Who will win this matchup?
If one team has defined the running back position in college football, it has been the University of Southern California. USC always has had respectable running backs, and that hasn’t changed this season.
However, Utah State is riding a wave of momentum that is simply hard to stop right now. Keeton is being featured in national publications nearly every week, and the Aggies’ defense has been respectable as well, ranking 36th in FBS.
USC didn’t dominate a bad Hawaii team and got pushed around by an improving Washington State team. Don’t expect the Trojans to even come close to pushing around the Aggies’ defense this week.
Utah State will minimize the rushing attack and reduce the game to a quarterback battle.
Advantage — Utah State.
