2012 College Football Predictions: USC Trojans BCS Odds, Schedule and Preview

2012 USC Trojans College Football Expert Predictions, Picks, Vegas Odds and Schedule – Southern Cal College Football Preview: For the past two years, an NCAA-imposed postseason ban has banished USC into irrelevancy. How many people even know what the Trojans’ record was last season? Well, Lane Kiffin’s bunch went 10-2 last season, knocking off conference power Oregon and scoring 38 or more points in the final five games. Had USC been eligible to play in the postseason, the Trojans would have won the Pac-12 South and had a shot at winning the conference title game and earning a BCS bowl berth. With the postseason ban set to end for the upcoming year and a ton of talent returning, Kiffin’s bunch could instantly make the jump from afterthought to national title contender in 2012-13.

The exclamation point on USC’s status as a national title threat title was quarterback Matt Barkley’s decision to return to school for his senior season. He was considered the second-best pro prospect at the position behind Andrew Luck last season, and he enters this year as the frontrunner for both the Heisman Trophy and for the top pick in next April’s NFL Draft. Barkley has been starting since he was a freshman. He understands the USC offense inside and out, and he has the physical tools to make every throw. Barkley is also extremely efficient, completing a high percentage of passes while keeping turnovers to a minimum. In short, he is the total package at the quarterback spot and a difference maker for the Trojans.

Barkley also has the added advantage of throwing to the best combination of receivers in the country. Robert Woods is arguably the most-polished and most-NFL ready receiver in the country. There isn’t a coverage he can’t beat, and while Woods is by no means slow, his running mate Marqise Lee is an absolute burner. Lee is an explosive deep threat that is just scratching the surface of his potential. Both players topped 1,000 yards last season, and the trio of Barkley, Woods and Lee will be giving opposing defenses nightmares this season. Together, they should help the Trojans have one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country.

While the offense will get most of the attention and produce plenty of highlight reel material, the defense is loaded with talent, as well. Safety T.J. McDonald followed Barkley and passed up the NFL to return for his senior season, and he will be the leader of the unit. The defensive line has two speedy edge rushers and a star at nose tackle in George Uko, while the linebackers are an athletic bunch of highly-touted recruits that should be even better in their sophomore campaigns. The secondary is probably USC’s biggest strength, and the Trojans should have one of their best defensive units in recent memory.

Looking at the schedule, USC will be tested early with road games at Stanford, Utah and Washington. On the plus side, the three-time defending conference champion Oregon Ducks have to visit the Coliseum, and USC also hosts long-time rival Notre Dame. Outside of the Fighting Irish, the out-of-conference schedule is easy. If the Trojans take care of business in the Pac-12, a trip to the BCS title game is well within reach.

Overall, the Trojans figure to be a focused group this year. With essentially nothing to play for last year other than pride, USC still went 10-2. Now that their postseason ban is lifted, Barkley, McDonald and the rest of the upperclassmen that have battled through the past two seasons will be even more motivated. The powerful passing attack should carry the Trojans all season long, and after beating Oregon on the road last season, beating the Ducks at home is definitely possible. A South Division title should be a given. A national title shot will likely come down to whether or not USC can beat Oregon once during the regular season and again in the Pac-12 title game.

Prediction: 12-0, Pac-12 South Division Champions

Preseason 2012 USC Trojans NCAA Football Odds:
Odds to Win 2012 BCS Championship: +400
Odds to Win 2012 PAC 12 Champonship: -220
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2012 USC Trojans College Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 1 Hawaii 7:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 8 at Syracuse 3:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 15 at (7) Stanford 7:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 22 California TBA —
Thu, Oct 4 at Utah 9:00 pm —
Sat, Oct 13 at Washington TBA —
Sat, Oct 20 Colorado TBA —
Sat, Oct 27 at Arizona TBA —
Sat, Nov 3 (4) Oregon TBA —
Sat, Nov 10 Arizona State TBA —
Sat, Nov 17 at UCLA TBA —
Sat, Nov 24 Notre Dame TBA —

Check out NSAwins.com’s official 2012 PAC 12 Football Predictions and Odds article.

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