LOUISIANA (1-0) at No. 14 USC (2-0)
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV/radio: Big Ten Network/710 AM
Line: USC by 30.5 points
NOTABLE INJURIES
USC: OUT: C Kilian O’Connor (knee); QUESTIONABLE: TE Tucker Ashcraft (undisclosed), WR Terrell Anderson (undisclosed), QB Sam Huard (undisclosed), DE Braylan Shelby (undisclosed), DT Jahkeem Stewart (foot), S Marquis Gallegos (undisclosed).
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Louisiana: OUT: WR Landon Strother (shoulder), WR Trenton Chaney (shoulder), WR Shelton Sampson (knee); LB Hayden Darbonne (undisclosed), S Peyton Dyer (undisclosed).
What’s at stake? This is USC’s final nonconference game before the Trojans take their longest road trip of the season to open Big Ten play at Rutgers. It’s one last chance to tie up loose ends, especially when it comes to getting previously injured players live-game repetitions. If players like defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart and defensive end Braylan Shelby aren’t available, it could foreshadow depth complications.
Who’s better? USC is better, and they’ll need to show that they’re better for a complete four quarters. The Trojans couldn’t close out their season opener at a high level once the starting players exited the game, but showed dramatic improvement up and down the depth chart when they shut out Fresno State the following week. They could continue on that trajectory, especially if a few of the injured players make their return this week. The Ragin’ Cajuns, from the Sun Belt Conference, are coming off a 6-7 season, which ended in a 20-13 loss to Delaware in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
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Matchup to watch: Louisiana’s passing game vs. USC’s defensive front. Ragin’ Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux told reporters earlier this week that his target completion percentage for dual-threat quarterback Lunch Winfield is 70%. The junior hit that mark in a 38-7 season-opening victory against Lamar … and threw two interceptions. If Jide Abasiri and the rest of the Trojans’ D-line can impose their will, the secondary can clean up with some picks.
USC wins if: Playing tough red-zone defense gives USC its best chance of keeping Louisiana off the board. All of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ touchdowns against Lamar were scored on the ground from 25 yards or less.
Prediction: USC 42, Louisiana 7. The Trojans go 3-0 in nonconference games before charging into Big Ten play.
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