USC Trojans 2023 College Football Preview
July 16, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 11-3
ATS – 8-6
“It would kill some men to get so close to their dream and not touch it.” <Ray Kinsella> <Field of Dreams>
The Trojans looked playoff bound. They were sitting at 11-1 with the only loss coming in Salt Lake City by one point in SOUL-CRUSHING fashion (L 43-42). All they had to do was exact revenge on the Utes in the PAC-12 Championship Game and it would be off to the College Football Playoff. What could possibly go wrong? Well, the Utes WHIPPED them 47-24 to take down the conference hardware, and sadly, backing the Trojans ended up being a 33,000 star MEGALOCKS DEATH BOOSTER-GIFTED MYOCARDITIS DEATH SENTENCE LATE PHONE RELEASE loser. The torture for USC fans somehow got even worse as they blew a late 15-point (!) lead vs Tulane in the Cotton Bowl in what was one of the most entertaining bowl games in recent memory.
USC Trojans 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
USC was unstoppable for the majority of the season and finished the year ranked #3 in the nation in both scoring offense (41.4 PPG) and total offense (507 YPG). Heisman Trophy winning QB Caleb Williams had a ridiculous 2022 season (4,537, 42-5 TD to INT, 10 rush TD) and he looks poised to dominate the competition once again. Williams gets three of his top-four WRs back for duty and all three of those men (Washington, Williams, Rice) averaged 15+ YPC LY. But wait. It gets better, yo. The Trojans pilfered 1,000-yard WR Dorian Singer from Arizona and he’ll be a fine addition to the WR corps. It stings to lose veteran RB Travis Dye who led the team in rushing LY but #2 option Austin Jones is a fine dual threat specimen who can do more (705, 5 TD; 25 receptions, 10.7). USC made another crafty pickup thru the portal by adding bruising RB MarShawn Lloyd from South Cackalacky. The only problem area might be the offensive line as they lose a pair of veteran starters and recall that they allowed an unseemly 30 sacks in 2022. They did a good job of acquiring linemen thru the transfer portal so we’ll see how things go. This is still a top-five FBS offense thanks to the presence of their All-Galaxy QB.
DEFENSE
The Trojans ranked #8 in the PAC-12 LY in both scoring defense (29.2 PPG) and total defense (424 YPG) and there’s no doubt they need to get a lot better if they wanna do great things in 2023. Improving the little things like “tackling” will be stressed during fall practice. There’s reason for optimism as they retain nine starters and five of their top-six tacklers, but they’re certainly gonna miss #1 sack producer Tuli Tuipulotu who was lethal LY (13.5 sacks, 22 TFL). They lost some key talent and PENETRATORS up front but it looks like they did a fine job solidifying the depth chart thru the portal. A solid LB crew features two of LY’s top-three leading tacklers (Lee, Gentry) and Oklahoma St transfer Mason Cobb (Pokes #2 tackler LY). USC loses star CB Mehki Blackmon to the NFL but they’ve got a solid safety tandem and they added CB Christian Roland-Wallace from Arizona who’ll step right into a starting role. We project improvement on defense but it’ll be a challenge to come close to last year’s sack production (40, #10 FBS).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Denis “Hooks and Slices” Lynch is back to handle the PK duties (15-22 FG, 74-74 XP LY) and it looks like Arizona St transfer Eddie Czaplicki will take over the punting detail. They could use some additional spice at KR and PR.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The first six games of the season is TOMATO CAN CITY and it’s virtually certain that they start 6-0, most likely with six blowout wins. The second half of the season is nasty as they’ve got road dates with Notre Dame and Oregon, and home games vs Utah, Washington, and UCLA.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at California (Oct 28)
This is a tricky spot for the Trojans as the game sits between battles with Utah and Washington. Cal would like nothing better than to SHOCK the WORLD and beat the hated Trojans.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 16
Over 10 -110
Under 10 -120
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
That looks like the right number. They’re a ridiculously talented bunch but we never like asking a team to win eleven games for us to cash a tickee tickee. We think it’s better to back USC in the futures markets if you’re bullish on their outlook.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The USC Cheerleaders. **
The USC football program holds the all-time record for the most quarterbacks (17) sent to the NFL. They’re tied for first with YOUR Miami Hurricanes in terms of NFL-bound WRs (40).
** Hopefully in the coming years, not even KAREN and her/its contingent of freaks will ruin the tradition of hottie cheerleaders doing their thing.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
Here we go!
We’ve been waiting patiently since the end of last season to see the next edition of USC football take the field with their incredibly-talented QB. The offense is going to put the HURT on opponents all year but we think it’ll be the defense that makes the difference between winning the PAC-12 title, and finishing with nine wins and ending up in a bowl game named after a party snack or home appliance.
Our best guess has a one-loss Trojans team making the College Football Playoff and being a SURPRISE PACKAGE to potentially win it all at odds of about 12-1 in most shops. FIGHT ON!