Pete Carroll had a marvelous nine-year run at the University of Southern California. During his stay, the program won 83.6 percent of its games (97-19). With Carroll leaving for the NFL, and with the NCAA cracking down on the program, it will be up to new head coach Lane Kiffin to ensure that USC remains one of college football's elite. Kiffin did well at Tennessee a season ago, so there is reason to believe he can do even better with a more talented USC squad. After failing to win a Pac-1o title for the first time since 2001, and now unable to win a recognized Pac-10 title in 2010 (due to NCAA sanctions), Kiffin should have no problem making sure his team enters the season with a big chip on its shoulder.
Offense: I expect USC to improve on the 26.5 points per game it averaged in 2009, and I expect it to do so with a dominant running attack. USC ranked No. 4 in the Pac-10 in rushing offense last season, averaging 166.8 yards per game on the ground. While that is a respectable figure, I believe this offense is capable of doing even more damage on the dirt. An offensive line unit which returns plenty of talent will be ready to open up plenty of holes for tailback Allen Bradford. Bradford rushed for 668 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Highly touted freshman Dillon Baxter will provide a nice change of pace. Establishing the running game will allow talented second-year quarterback Matt Barkley to thrive. Barkley threw for 2,735 yards and 15 touchdowns with 14 interceptions in his freshman campaign. The experience he gained in 2009 should allow him to cut down on the mistakes in 2010. Ronald Johnson, who is coming off a 34-catch season, figures to be Barkley's go-to wide receiver.
Defense: The 2008 USC defense proved to be a tough act to follow as the 2009 version allowed three different opponents to score 36 or more points. In fact, no USC defensive unit allowed that many points in any of the previous three seasons. The good news is that USC still led the Pac-10 in scoring defense last season, and more improvement is expected to be on the way. Defensive guru Monte Kiffin has plenty of talent to work with, especially in the front seven where tackle Jerrell Casey and linebacker Malcolm Smith are players to watch. Smith is the team's top returning tackler, tallying 72 stops last season. There are some questions in the secondary, but the return of strong cover corner Shareece Wright, who was ineligible in 2009, gives this unit a much-needed boost. All in all, I expect a much more organized and consistent defense in 2010.
Prediction: 1st Pac-10 - I don't expect motivation to be an issue as this proud program, with tons of top tier recruits, looks to rebound from a down season by its high standards. With nothing to play for but bragging rights, USC will make every game count. Be sure to check out my 2010 PAC 10 football predictions to see how I have the rest of the league playing out.
Jimmy Boyd's expert football picks are here to help you crush the college football odds this season!
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