Who Should USC Fans Root For in the Pac-12 This Week?

For the second time this season in two weeks, the USC Trojans are not playing on Saturday. They beat Cal 38-30 on Thursday.

That means you can sit back, relax, and watch all of the big-time college football matchups this week that you might have otherwise missed.

Because USC is on the outside looking in at the Pac-12 South race, they need plenty of help and therefore have a good amount of couch-cheering in store. Who should USC fans root for?

RELATED: Examining the possible scenarios in which USC can win the South

Let’s take a look at the Pac-12 games that hold significance to the Trojans.

Washington at Arizona

When: 12:30 PM PT on FOXWho to root for: Arizona

The most realistic scenario for USC to get to the Pac-12 title game is for Arizona to force a three-way tie atop the South by winning their remaining three games, Washington included. If the Wildcats lose at any point, then the Trojans would need ASU to lose two of their final three games, with an out-right title being the only possible scenario left. So needless to say, USC is pulling heavily for Arizona.

Utah at Stanford

When: 3:00 PM PT on Pac-12 NetworksWho to root for: Stanford

If the three-way tie scenario goes down, the only way USC can win the tiebreaker is if UCLA finishes ahead of Utah in the standings. That scenario would leave the Utes with at least four losses and UCLA with at least three, which is favorable to the Bruins finishing ahead. But it’s important to remember that the Utes own the head-to-head tiebreaker over UCLA after being a then Top 10 Bruins team back in early October. So a Utah loss to Stanford is insurance in case UCLA happens to lose to the Cardinal on Black Friday.

Arizona State at Oregon State

When: 7:45 PM PT on ESPNWho to root for: Oregon State

As mentioned, in order for USC to win the Pac-12 South outright without relying on Arizona winning out, ASU needs to lose twice. Therefore any Sun Devil loss from here on out is welcomed by the Trojans, as Arizona has three very losable games remaining on their schedule, including at Utah and home against ASU. It’s unlikely that Sean Mannion and the Beavers will throw USC a bone here, but Oregon State is still the rooting interest.

More from Reign of Troy

• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers
• Talanoa Hufanga is officially and rightly an All-American for USC football
• Five things USC football can do to increase optimism for 2021