#6 USC @ StanfordSaturday, November 15, 2008 - 7:00 EST
Stanford Stadium - Palo Alto, California
USC -23
Summary
These two teams first met in 1905 in which USC leads the all-time series 58-25-3...but last year's contest may have been the biggest upset of all the games as Stanford beat USC 24-23...the Cardinal were a 39 point underdog...five USC turnovers doomed the Trojans...USC passed for 364 yards while Stanford had a measly 149 yards...
This will mark Pete Carroll's 100th game as head coach of the Trojans...unbelievably he is 25-0 in November games as head coach of USC...QB Mark Sanchez has tossed 24 TDs and 7 INTs this year...their rushing attack is a 3-headed monster of C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson, and Joe McKnight...incredibly, McKnight does not have a rushing TD all year...
When accepting the job at Stanford, head coach Jim Harbaugh all but guaranteed a win over USC...Stanford has shown marked improvement this year...they have lost by 7 points or less in their last three losses (Notre Dame by 7), (UCLA by 3), (Oregon State by 7)...
Tavita Pritchard is the QB...he is consistent as he has thrown 9 TDs to go with 9 INTs...Toby Gerhart leads the rushing attack with 932 yards and 13 TDs...his stablemate Anthony Kimble has 650 yards and 5 TDs...
When looking at scoring by the quarter, Stanford has scored 107 points in the second quarter - the most of any quarter for them...however, the defense also allows the most points in any quarter with 92...
Quick Numbers
Offensive Numbers
USC - Rushing per game - 201 yards
Stan - Rushing per game - 207 yards
USC - Passing per game - 253 yards
Stan - Passing per game - 135 yards
Defensive Numbers
USC - Rushing allowed - 77 yards
Stan - Rushing allowed - 126 yards
USC - Passing allowed - 128 yards
Stan - Passing allowed - 248 yards
- Over the last 3 years, USC is 3-2 against the spread when favored by 21.5 to 31 points
- Over the last 3 years, USC is 1-2 straight up when favored by 21.5 to 31 points
- When playing at home, Stanford is 4-4 against the spread vs. USC since 1992
What the experts say
The Gold Sheet - USC 27-15
Pointwise - USC 40-10
USC Trojans (8-1) - Head Coach Pete Carroll
Here are the USC game notes for the Stanford game...
Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times writes how USC QB Mark Sanchez is focused on throwing INTs... "Sarkisian, however, would like Sanchez's completion percentage to be near 70% by the time the Trojans finish the regular season. USC plays Stanford on Saturday and then has a bye before playing Notre Dame and UCLA." ...
Klein writes how RB Joe McKnight has had a series of setbacks throughout the year... "McKnight's season has been stunted from the beginning. During training camp in August, he was one of many Trojans stricken with what players and coaches described as "jock itch." He also suffered a broken finger when a teammate accidentally slammed a door on his hand, and a hyper-extended elbow during a scrimmage." ...
Michael Lev of the Orange County Register writes about USC's newest horse in the backfield... "D.J. Shoemate doesn't care what position he plays; he just wants to contribute to the USC football program in any way he can." ...
Stanford Cardinal (5-5) - Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Here is the Stanford game notes for the USC game...
Michelle Smith of the San Francisco Chronicle writes how both teams are downplaying last year's huge upset... "Interested in talking about Stanford's 24-23 upset of USC in Los Angeles last season and the Trojans' desire to get some payback for the historic defeat? Go ahead. Just don't ask the teams involved to contribute to the discussion." ...
Smith writes how Stanford QB Tavita Pritchard has not progressed after last year's upset of USC... "Pritchard has found living up to his first college start an impossible task. He was a sophomore in October 2007, an emergency fill-in for injured T.C. Ostrander, when he led Stanford to an improbable and historic 24-23 upset of USC." ...
Here is a 49 second clip of Stanford's game winning touchdown last year...
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