On Saturday, the USC football team will host Michigan at the Coliseum. While the Trojans and Wolverines met last season in Ann Arbor and have faced off eight times in the Rose Bowl, this will mark just Michigan’s second ever trip to the Coliseum, with the first coming all of the way back in 1957.
In the latest edition of our Southern California College Football Roundtable, we asked our writers what the biggest key to Saturday’s game is. Here is what they had to say:
Matt Zemek, Editor
“The USC pass rush. Absent against Illinois, the USC defensive line allowed the Illini to enjoy a productive offensive game. If, after a week off, nothing changes for this group, USC will be in huge trouble against a Michigan team whose defense figures to challenge USC.”
Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire
“Can USC hang with Michigan on the lines of scrimmage? The Wolverines are not an elite passing team (although you never know with this USC secondary), but they have the ability to physically dominate teams, as we saw in this matchup last year. The Trojans need to prove that they can hold their own on the lines of scrimmage and put the pressure on Michigan true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.”
Micah Huff, Trojans Wire
“The Trojans’ defense needs to do what they are good at, and that is getting after the quarterback. The Trojans need to rattle Bryce Underwood and make him uncomfortable. Michigan will have its way in the run game, but if it can replicate what Oklahoma did to Bryce Underwood, it can win this game.”
Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire
“Michigan and USC play two different brands of football and whichever team can control the pace of the game will likely leave victorious. If this is a shootout, I like the Trojans to out-last the true freshman Bryce Underwood. If this game is about getting stops, I don’t trust the USC defense to be able to do so.”
Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire
“The trenches are always a key factor in a team’s victory and that shouldn’t change in this game. If USC’s defensive line could help their young secondary by continuously pressuring MIchigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, then the game should go smoothly for the Trojans. If not, then Underwood could carve up the secondary, who’s play has already raised questions.”
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: What is the biggest key for USC football against Michigan in Week 7?
