USC vs. Utah Score Predictions: Will the Trojans best injures and the Utes?

Oct 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of fireworks during the playing of the national anthem before the NCAA football game between the Arizona Wildcats and the Southern California Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a week full of bad news for the Trojans on the injury front, but they’ll still take the field on Saturday against the Utah Utes. With identical records and both coming off tough loses, USC and Utah will each be looking for a bounce back win. Granted, the Trojans will also be hoping to finish the game with enough players to continue the season.

Here’s how the Reign of Troy staff sees the game playing out:

Matthew Moreno | Utah 20, USC 10

Considering all the injury woes, I really don’t see how USC manages to win this game. Their best chance may hinge on whether or not Utah has quarterback Travis Wilson available, and it appears he will at least try to play.

Maybe the defense can score a touchdown, maybe they will force a turnover deep in Utah territory, maybe USC will be able to suit up one tight end. Too many things need to break in USC’s favor in order for them to win and given how the season has gone, that’s unlikely to happen.

Michael Castillo | Utah 20, USC 10

There’s just too many injuries, too much inconsistency on both sides of the ball and too healthy of a Travis Wilson for the Trojans to end up on the right side of the this one. How the Trojans are still favored by nearly a touchdown is baffling, as Utah boasts a front seven that is on par with that of Stanford and UCLA in the Pac-12. The Utes shut down the Bruins and Cardinal for much of their contests with each, and should have won both games instead of their home split. Add in a depleted USC offense that could be without five of their top six pass catchers and their top two rushers, and it could be an awfully long afternoon for Ed Orgeron’s Trojans.

Alicia de Artola | Utah 17, USC 20

It would be nice to be positive about this game, but there’s no getting around it. USC just suffered a demoralizing loss to Notre Dame and there’s been nothing but a rock slide of bad news to follow. With so many injuries on both sides of the ball, both of which were already struggling, there’s no reason to predict a victory.

Yet I’m going to do it anyways. Cody Kessler will try, but the pass protection without a single scholarship tight end will be a mess and he’ll have a receiving corp of walk ons to target. That means the game falls on the shoulders of USC’s dwindling collection of running backs. And they will be the difference. Tre Madden is slated to return, Silas Redd has already proven himself as a warrior and Buck Allen will have the opportunity to shine. Riding the running game, the Trojans will pull off the unlikely victory.

Do you think the Trojans will beat the Utes on Saturday? Give us your score predictions below.