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USC Trojans 2014 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2014-15 Football Previews – (Pac-12) – Trojans

The USC Trojans spent many years dominating the Pac-12, but it’s been Stanford and Oregon who have taken control over the past few seasons. The question now is whether or not new leader Steve Sarkisian can bring this program back to prominence, and if he can, will it happen in his first season roaming the sidelines as head coach?

Pac-12 Conference 2014-15 College Football Previews: USC (Link)
Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian
2013 Record: 10-4
USC Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship: 25/1
USC Gambling Odds to win Pac-12 South Division: 2/1
USC Gambling Odds to win Pac-12 Conference: 5/1

The Trojans went 10-4 overall last season, winning six of its nine conference games. It had as many wins as second-place divisional opponent UCLA, and it closed out the year with a dominating 45-20 win over the Fresno State Bulldogs in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl.

Whether or not the Trojans can be dominant in 2014 has yet to be seen, but if you’ve been watching this program over the past few years, it appears as if there’s a strong showing on the horizon, as this is a group that knows how to compile talent.

Team Strengths:

The USC Trojans are returning 14 starters from 2013, which is important to consider when looking at a new head coach looking to run a new scheme. Having players on the same page is crucial, and this is undoubtedly a strength in the midst of a shift of power.

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Offensively, quarterback Cody Kessler and receiver Nelson Agholor have the potential to be one of the best one-two punches in the entire Pac-12. The QB-WR tandem will make headlines week in and week out, and while Agholor has a real possibility of earning All-American honros, Kessler can establish himself as the true heir to Matt Barkley in just his second season.

Defensively, this unit was the true strength of the team for much of last season. The Trojans defense gave up just 21.2 points per game, which was good enough for 16th in the country, and that made up for the fact that the team was just 61st in points per game (60th in rushing and 73rd in passing).

Team Weaknesses:

Although this isn’t necessarily a team weakness, it’s a potential concern following a brand of pro-style offense that led this group to so many championships: a new up-tempo offense.
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While bringing in a new offense could shake things up for the better, it’s also nerve-racking for those who have been around this program for such a long time. The bigger concern, though, is the offensive line, and whether or not it will be quick enough to keep up with the newly established pace.

Overall, depth is also an issue. This team isn’t nearly as deep as it has been in recent memory, due to NCAA penalties, but if health doesn’t become a concern, the talent at the top of the rotation should be enough to push for an appearance in the Pac-12 title game as the South Division champion (although UCLA will be the favorite entering the year).

2013-14 USC Football Prediction: 9-3

The Trojans shouldn’t lose any non-conference games this season. They start out the year with Fresno State (the same Bulldogs squad they squashed in last year’s bowl game), then they have a road contest against Boston College on Sept. 13 and they close out the schedule with Notre Dame at home in the last contest of the year.

After that, you’ve still got a relatively favorable schedule. Stanford in Week 2 should prove to be a contest that goes in the opponents’ favor, but then you’re looking at one, maybe two losses the rest of the year.

Don’t expect a top-four finish into the first annual College Football Playoff, but expect a strong season from Sarkisian in his first year as head coach of the Trojans.

USC Schedule

  • Sat, Aug 30 vs Fresno State
  • Sat, Sept 6 @ Stanford
  • Sat, Sept 13 @ Boston College
  • Sat, Sept 27 vs Oregon State
  • Sat, Oct 4 vs Arizona State
  • Sat, Oct 11 @ Arizona
  • Sat, Oct 18 vs Colorado
  • Sat, Oct 25 @ Utah
  • Sat, Nov 1 @ Washington St
  • Thu, Nov 13 vs California
  • Sat, Nov 22 @ UCLA
  • Sat, Nov 29 vs Notre Dame

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Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"