Is USC vs. Colorado a Trap Game? Rick Reilly Thinks So

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The USC Trojans have won four in a row under interim coach Ed Orgeron and are a perfect 5-0 in Pac-12 play under Lane Kiffin’s successor. On top of that, they’ve never lost to Colorado in school history. Moreover, they haven’t lost a regular season game played in the mountain time zone since 1915.

But according to ESPN’s Rick Reilly, this Saturday’s contest between the 8-3 Trojans and the 4-6 Buffaloes is the “trap game of the year”.

Is Reilly on to something? Fundamentally speaking, perhaps.

For starters, the game has the subtle feel of a trap game. It’s on the road, follows a big emotional win over Stanford, and is the week before what should be an enormous rivalry game with the highly-ranked UCLA Bruins on November 30th.

Fundamentally, that’s a trap game, regardless of the opponent.

Add in the fact that the weather forecast for Boulder is calling for a high of 39 during the day, a low of 26 degrees and the possibility for lingering snow from a Thursday storm, and it’s fair to say the game has all the makings for a trap game.

Fortunately for USC, the Colorado Buffaloes appear to still be a work in progress under first-year head coach Mike MacIntyre, despite steadily improving. Wide receiver Paul Richardson –who is having an All-Pac-12 calibre year for the Buffs– leads Colorado, but they’ve struggled in taking the step from giving teams fits to eking out wins.

Plus, USC has historically rebounded nicely from emotional games in the past, including a big 42-17 win over Colorado in Boulder two years ago, following the heartbreaking overtime loss to Stanford. And after the emotional statement win in the famed Aaron Rodgers’ Cal game in 2004, they obliterated No. 15 Arizona State 45-7 the next week.

Considering that Ed Orgeron was on USC’s staff in both instances and more importantly cannot at all afford a let down if he wants the full-time head coaching job at USC, expect the Trojans to come to play.

The variables are there for it to be a trap at the Trojans will surely need to be aware of that, but a lot would have to go in Colorado’s favor for the Buffs to get first ever win over the Trojans.

What say you? Is it a trap game for Orgeron’s Trojans? Vote in our poll and leave us your thoughts down below in the comments.

Is the Colorado game a 'trap game' for USC?

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