THE OFFICIAL RUTGERS-USC PREDICTION THREAD
- Thread starter bac2therac
- Start date
Hard to pick RU in any road game, especially one involving 3,000 miles of travel. USC 80- RU 60
I have a funny feeling about this one (in a good way). Since Big Ten play resumed in January, USC is only averaging 69 ppg over eight games, and they've only broken the 80-point mark once (88 against Maryland). They're just 3-5 in that stretch, losing @ Michigan and @ MSU, losing at home to Purdue and Northwestern, and losing @ Iowa, while winning @ Minnesota, home to Maryland, and @ Wisconsin.
In that same stretch, Rutgers is averaging 72.5 ppg (albeit that includes three OT games) and has gone 2-6. Other than the Indiana stinker, Rutgers has been playing much better of late, but hasn't been able to get over the hump against better competition (OT wins against NW and Oregon don't count as "better" competition). I think the team will "come together" with an "us against the world" mentality for this 2-game Cali road trip, and I think they steal the USC game.
Rutgers 75
USC 72
In that same stretch, Rutgers is averaging 72.5 ppg (albeit that includes three OT games) and has gone 2-6. Other than the Indiana stinker, Rutgers has been playing much better of late, but hasn't been able to get over the hump against better competition (OT wins against NW and Oregon don't count as "better" competition). I think the team will "come together" with an "us against the world" mentality for this 2-game Cali road trip, and I think they steal the USC game.
Rutgers 75
USC 72
If they can win @Wisconsin and @minnesota while losing at home to Washington and Northwestern, it's pretty fair to say you don't know who is showing up from game to game with that team. They are a bubble NCAA team and a loss to RU would do major damage. They likely realize this so I expect them to show up.