USC never has lost three straight games against ASU, which is what the streak would reach should the Sun Devils win. Containing him will be a key for Arizona State’s defense in its quest to slow the Trojans.
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“I think for anybody, especially Southern California kids that commit to ASU, you know that game is automatically circled on your schedule”, Bercovici said. I feel good about where we are defensively.
But this home game against the 19th-ranked Trojans is a chance to get right and make a statement in the Pac-12 South. USC could be either desperate or depressed after dropping its conference opener in a 41-31 upset to visiting Stanford last week.
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, USC is the slight favorite on the road, as the Trojans are getting odds of -5.5 points against the Sun Devils. “That’s one less defender in pass coverage. We still have to improve on keeping the quarterback in the pocket when we’re calling internal pressures”. Though they had a season-high three sacks and eventually injured Hogan, the Trojans weren’t able to consistently get penetration from a four-man rush. Quarterback Mike Bercovici has thrown for 799 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the offense while Demario Richard has rushed for 298 yards and two scores.
Arizona State (2-1) has scored 69 points in two lopsided wins since, with Bercovici throwing for 600 yards and six touchdowns.
This year’s Sun Devils team is not the same offensive juggernaut it has been in years past, as it now finds itself in the bottom-half of the FBS and Pac-12 in scoring – they’re averaging a little more than 28 points per game, while facing below-average opponents like Cal Poly and New Mexico. Devin Lucien added 43 yards in four catches.
The Trojans won’t have to worry about Strong, a third-round Houston Texans draft pick. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Isaac Whitney have combined for 532 receiving yards and five touchdowns while Darreus Rogers has seven receptions.
USC football heads to Tempe Saturday looking for their first win at Sun Devil Stadium since 2009. He was 25 of 32 for 272 yards last weekend.
USC came into each of these games as double-digit favorites and failed to take care of business.
“This is a really critical game very early in the season for us that we need to put our best foot forward to try to get the ‘W, ‘” Sarkisian said.
The fourth quarter was all USC (or at least that’s how it started).
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