USC vs. Cal Gameday Guide 2017: Matchups, links, odds and more

USC vs. Cal

Cal Memorial Stadium | Berkeley, CA12:30 p.m. Pacific | FOXAll-time Series: 68-30-5Last meeting: USC 45, Cal 24 in Los Angeles

With a 13-game series winning streak on the line, USC travels to Berkeley in Week 4 to square off with the Cal Bears.

USC vs. Cal offers up as intriguing a matchup as any game on the Trojans schedule in 2017. The Bears are led by Justin Wilcox, the former USC defensive coordinator who was let go when Clay Helton was promoted to permanent head coach for the Trojans in 2015.

Cal also happens to be an unexpected 3-0 to start Wilcox’s tenure, adding to the storylines which permeate the contest between two undefeated teams.

Will USC get caught in a trap, coming off of an emotion win over Texas and looking ahead to a pivotal Friday night game with Washington State next week?

Or will Helton’s Trojans make a statement and increase their unbeaten run to 13 consecutive wins a year and one day since last loss?

Gameday Links:

Preview Podcast:

On this week’s preview podcast, co-hosts Michael Castillo and Alicia de Artola look back at Texas and look ahead to Cal, previewing the matchups, laying down predictions and setting over/unders.

LISTEN: USC vs Cal Preview

Having trouble? Listen on BlogTalkRadio, iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher.

USC Injury Report:

Out for season: K Michael Brown (knee), LB Tayler Katoa (knee), CB Jonathan Lockett (hip), S Isaiah Pola-Mao (shoulder)
Out: OLB Hunter Echols (hip), OLB Porter Gustin (toe/bicep), TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip), WR Joseph Lewis (abdominal), WR Steven Mitchell (groin), OT Nathan Smith (knee)
Questionable: OLB Juliano Falaniko (knee), DL Rasheem Green (ankle), DB Ajene Harris (knee), LB John Houston (neck), DL Liam Jimmons (ankle), RB Ronald Jones II (quad/ankle), DL Jacob Lichtenstein (back), WR Keyshawn “Pie” Young (hamstring)
Probable: OL Chuma Edoga (wrist), OLB Uchenna Nwosu (elbow/MCL), WR Michael Pittman (ankle), DL Marlon Tuipulotu (knee)

Cal Injury Report:

Out for season: RB Tre Watson (knee)
Questionable: LB Jordan Kunaszyk (undisclosed), DL Tevin Paul (undisclosed), WR Demetris Robertson (undisclosed), LB Cameron Saffle (undisclosed)

Click here for more details from the USC and Cal injury reports.

When USC has the ball…

USC comes into the Cal game with some fitness questions on offense after starters like running back Ronald Jones II and receiver Steven Mitchell sat out of practice this week. However, the Trojans still boast a wealth of talent on offense—enough to overcome those injury concerns.

With Sam Darnold at the helm, Deontay Burnett as his main target and freshman running back Stephen Carr seemingly capable of picking up the slack, the Trojans will look to overwhelm Wilcox’s defense with a balanced attack.

Wilcox’s 3-4 scheme is built on a bend-but-don’t break mentality. They have conceded yardage this year, but they have been opportunistic by forcing turnovers and holding teams out of the endzone

Up front, USC’s offensive line hope to bounce back after a difficult day versus Texas. Cal defensive end James Looney hope to make that as difficult as possible by generating penetration inside.

At linebacker, the Bears are led by Devante Downs, who leads the Pac-12 in tackles and is among the conference’s most prolific players this year in sacks, interceptions and tackles for loss.

In the secondary, Cal will lean on safety Jaylinn Hawkins and cornerback Camryn Bynum to keep USC’s receiving corps in check.

Projected Cal Defense

DE Luc Bequette #93

NG Tony Mekari #97

DE James Jooney #9

SAM Cameron Goode #19

MIKE Raymond Davison #31

WILL Devante Downs #1

RUSH Alex Funches #36

CB Camryn Bynum #24

S Quentin Tartabull #28

S Jaylinn Hawkins #6

CB Elijah Hucks #3

Projected USC Offense

WR Jalen Greene #10

WR Deontay Burnett #80

TE Tyler Petite #82

RT Chuma Edoga #70

RG Viane Talamaivao #60

C Nico Falah #74

LG Chris Brown #77

LT Toa Lobendahn #50

WR Tyler Vaughns #21

QB Sam Darnold #14

RB Ronald Jones II #25

When Cal has the ball…

USC’s defense is plenty banged up after a stellar performance against Texas. The Trojans are likely to be without outside linebacker Porter Gustin, while defensive end Rasheem Green, nickelback Ajene Harris, strongside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and weakside linebacker John Houston are all coming off a limited week of practice.

Clancy Pendergast’s attacking 5-2 defense, in their base nickel lineup, will have to create pressure, whether the starters can go or not, seeking to rattle first-year starter Ross Bowers at quarterback.

CHECK OUT: Ranking USC’s 25 Most Dominant Defenders

Though Cal no longer runs a pure “Bear Raid” offense, the remnants of that scheme remain in the personnel on the field. Bowers and the Bear receiving corps will look to get the ball out quickly in the face of USC’s aggressive pass rush.

It would go a long way for Cal if wide receiver Demetris Robertson is available. The former five-star receiver and Freshman All-American missed last week’s win over Ole Miss.

Besides that passing attack, the Bears have committed more full to the run in 2017. Vic Enwere is listed as the starter for Cal, but Patrick Laird is the danger man. He is averaging 7.5 yards a carry.

Projected Cal Offense

WR Demetris Robertson #8

LT Patrick Mekari #79

LG Kamryn Bennett #72

C Addison Ooms #57

RG Valentino Daltoso #61

RT Jake Curhan #71

QB Ross Bowers #3

RB Vic Enwere #23

TE Kyle Wells #87

WR Kanawai Noa #9

WR Vic Wharton #17

Projected USC Defense

SLB Uchenna Nwosu #42

DE Rasheem Green #94

DT Josh Fatu #98

NB Ajene Harris #27

PRED Oluwole Betiku #99

MLB Cameron Smith #35

WLB John Houston #10

CB Iman Marshall #8

SS Chris Hawkins #4

FS Marvell Tell #7

CB Jack Jones #25

Odds (USC -17):

Despite USC’s questionable injury situation, the Trojans opened as a 17-point favorite and that line has remained steady throughout the week. Oddsmakers expect plenty of scoring with an over/under at 64 points.

USC has been favored by double-digits twice in three games, but has yet to cover such a sizable spread. The Trojans are 1-2 against the spread in 2017.

Cal, meanwhile, has beaten the spread twice this year. The Bears were 13-point and 4.5-point underdogs to North Carolina and Ole Miss respectively.

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