Somehow, the Clay Helton era is still alive at USC. Helton has been on the hot seat since the Trojans went 5-7 in 2018, but the administration has yet to make a move. That has led to USC falling from its perch in the PAC 12, and this program is no longer the juggernaut it was several years ago. Helton forestalled a potential firing last season with two comeback wins over the two Arizona schools in his first two games. USC erased a 13-point deficit in the final three minutes to beat Arizona State in its season opener, and the Trojans scored with 25 seconds left to beat the Arizona Wildcats in their next game. They survived a scare against cross-town rival UCLA in their regular season finale to go 5-0, but they fell in the PAC 12 Championship Game to Oregon.
USC Trojans Season Win Total
Over 8.5 +104
Under 8.5 -124
USC Trojans Preview
Kedon Slovis was named First Team All-PAC 12 last season and is the best quarterback in the conference. Although Slovis can be a bit mistake prone, he has the positive qualities you want in a gunslinger. He completed 67% of his passes for 1,921 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2020, and his emergence in 2019 led to J.T. Daniels transferring to Georgia.
Slovis only has two experienced receivers to throw the ball too though. Drake London led all receivers with 33 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns last season, and Bru McCoy had 21 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns. McCoy has been suspended indefinitely, so either Colorado transfer K.D. Nixon or one of the younger options must emerge alongside London.
This ground game figures to be much better in 2021. Four starters return along the offensive line, and that should immensely help as the Trojans averaged a miniscule 3.0 YPC in 2020. Those four starters are all redshirt seniors, so they have loads of experience.
Leading rusher Vavae Malepeai is back for the Trojans, but Keaontay Ingram will be the No. 1 running back. Ingram comes in as a grad transfer from Texas after running for 1,811 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 5.3 YPC with the Longhorns. That should take some of the pressure off Slovis in the passing game.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the defense this year. USC welcomed several transfers from other Power Five programs on this side of the ball, and their names have immediately factored into the two-deep. Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando did a solid job with this unit last year, but Orlando has had ups and downs.
Korey Foreman is expected to make an immediate impact as a five-star defensive end, and Tuli Tuipulotu is going to be one of the rocks of the defensive line up front. The strongest position looks to be linebacker though as the Trojans have plenty of experience.
Drake Jackson was a Second Team All-PAC 12 selection in 2020, and Ralen Goforth and Kana’i Mauga were starters alongside him last year. There is depth at linebacker just in case of injury too.
These defensive backs are talented, but Chris Steele is the only truly elite player in the secondary. It says something about USC’s development that the Trojans are relying on transfers especially in this position group.
2021 USC Trojans Schedule
September 4 vs. San Jose State
September 11 vs. Stanford
September 18 @ Washington State
September 25 vs. Oregon State
October 2 @ Colorado
October 9 vs. Utah
October 23 @ Notre Dame
October 30 vs. Arizona
November 6 @ Arizona State
November 13 @ California
November 20 vs. UCLA
November 27 vs. BYU
USC Trojans Win Total Prediction
This is a rather difficult schedule for the Trojans. Their three non-conference games are against teams that went a combined 28-4 last season. The good news is that San Jose State and BYU had once in a generation seasons, but those teams should still be solid. Notre Dame will take a step back too after losing so much talent, but the Fighting Irish have won three straight games over the Trojans.
USC has the benefit of not playing either Oregon or Washington from the PAC 12 North, but the Trojans will probably top out at nine wins given this daunting schedule.
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