The Trojans are coming to town and they are bring half of Southern California with them. We always know they are here in Colorado, those California transplants, but they have started popping their heads up a little higher this week. That’s OK. CA is in for a Colorado invasion next week. (I think everybody in Boulder is going to that game.)
The Trojans are arriving to town with Carson Palmer carrying the team on his shoulders. Palmer knows he has to do something to live up to the hype in this his final year. Despite high expectations Palmer has been less than spectacular at USC. Amassing a starting record of just 16-16. Well, the Trojans need him this Saturday if they are going to win. The Trojans have been unable to get their running game going this year and for most of last year too. I don’t think the Buffs are going to make it any easier on Malaefou MacKenzie this week. Good luck. The Buffs defense is primed to stand up against the run.
So that puts the pressure squarely on Carson’s shoulders. He has 2 fast receivers who are licking their lips looking at the CU secondary. Not so Fast, the CU secondary improved by leaps and bounds last week. Stellar performances by JJ Billingsley, Clyde Surrell, Lovel Houston and the return of Roderick Sneed make the CU secondary look not so soft after all. This should be a good matchup, but if our DBs start to slide and let the big plays through CU could be in for a long day..
On Offense, CU’s running game is always strong. Even without Marcus Houston, I think we will run right through their defensive line. The only question is can we run through, over or around Troy Polamalu, perhaps the best safety in the nation. That will be a fun matchup to watch the first time Chris Brown collides with Polamalu.
Who is Robert Hodge? That is the question we need to have answered on Saturday. We know he can run, but that is not going to be enough this week or next. Show us you can pass. This may be THE key to the game.
Allright what is everybody else saying? Here is the depth chart. Everybody loves Carson (Palmer not Daly). Surrell is ready to rock. It should be a close game. And finally Chris Fowler thinks that the Buffs might need some help to win.

Related posts:

  1. 3 Questions Heading Into USC
  2. Our Thoughts…
  3. Brown edged by Palmer