Virginia at USC

Written by Steve Janus

The 16th-ranked USC Trojans will make their 2010 home debut this Saturday against the Virginia Cavaliers. It will be the first game for new head coach Lane Kiffin at the Coliseum, and it will be interesting to see what kind of reception the home crowd gives him this weekend. The Trojans opened up the 2010 season with a 49-36 win over Hawaii last Thursday. Virginia also started the season off on the right foot, as the crushed Richmond 34-13. It was the first time the Cavaliers won a season opener since 2005. Looking at the college football odds for the game this weekend, the oddsmakers currently have the Trojans 20-point favorites over the Cavaliers, with the total sitting at 50-points.

The Trojans had to like what they got out of sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley, as he lit up the Hawaii defense for 257 yards and five touchdowns on 18 of 23 passing. It was the first time Barkley didn’t throw an interception in his last nine starts, and the first time he had ever thrown for more than two touchdowns in a game.

The Trojans also look like they have found their starting running back, as junior Marc Tyler ran for 154 yards and a touchdown against the Warriors defense, earning him the starting job over Allen Bradford this week. Senior wide out Ronald Johnson was also impressive in the win over Hawaii, as he hauled in seven passes for 59 yards and three touchdowns.

While the offense looked great, I was not impressed at all with the Trojans defense in the opener. USC was actually outgained in the game, as Hawaii finished with 588 yards of total offense, compared to just 524 from USC. The secondary was torched for 459 yards and three touchdowns. USC will have to play much better on this side of the ball if they plan on seriously competing in the Pac-10 this season.

What a performance the Cavaliers got from senior running back Keith Payne, who was all but done with football until Virginia fired Al Groh and replaced him with Mike London. Payne ran for 114 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries, as he powered his way through Richmond defenders.

It was nice to see the Cavaliers get off to a good start to the 2010 season, but you really can’t read a lot into the win over a team like Richmond. Virginia figures to have one heck of a time stopping the USC offense this weekend, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they kept it close much like Hawaii did in the opener.

Looking at the Odds: I was all over USC to cover the 21-point spread over Hawaii in the season opener, but they simply could not stop the Warriors offense when they needed to. I think it will be a much different story this weekend against Virginia in front of their home crowd. The Trojans are much better against the run than they are the pass, and the Cavaliers offense is based off the rushing attack of Payne. I don’t think Virginia has a chance at stopping Barkley and company on defense. My final score prediction is USC 49, Virginia 13.

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