Jon Wilner’s essential Pac-12 entice video games for 2022: USC is included twice
Final yr, USC was not an ambush sufferer, a prime staff which received stunned and was knocked off its pedestal. The Trojans had been far too dangerous, far too incompetent, to ever attain a lofty perch within the first place. These weren’t ambushes in 2021; these had been simply sad-sack no-shows by a largely torpid protection.
In 2022, although, sure — the Trojans occupy a lofty place, and challengers will probably be gunning for them. If USC unexpectedly loses a non-Notre Dame house recreation, it’s going to fee as an ambush and a definite shock to the system. Hopefully, the Trojans will probably be able to take care of these conditions, not simply their highlight showdowns in opposition to the Preventing Irish, the Utah Utes, and that basically huge Week 4 recreation in opposition to Oregon State.
Buy Trojans TicketsJon Wilner of the Wilner Hotline, syndicated at Tucson.com and the other local Pac-12 markets which pick up his work, put forth an inventory of the highest Pac-12 entice video games of 2022. USC seems twice. Look under to seek out out the 2 USC video games Wilner identifies as potential traps for the Trojans:
NORTH DAKOTA STATE VS. ARIZONA
Nov 27, 2021; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona Wildcats helmet in the course of the Territorial Cup at Solar Satan Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Sept. 17): A simple name on condition that the Wildcats open with San Diego State on the street and Mississippi State at house, then should get revved as much as face NDSU in Week Three. The Bison are an elite FCS program that has produced two present NFL quarterbacks (Trey Lance and Carson Wentz) and poses a steep problem below any circumstances.
FRESNO STATE AT USC
Aug 31, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs vast receiver Chris Coleman (8) catches a move as Southern California Trojans cornerback Greg Johnson (9) defends within the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Fresno State 31-23. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Sept. 17): In case you watched the Bulldogs take down UCLA final September, this stands as a entice recreation of the very best order for the Trojans, who will probably be between convention street video games in opposition to groups that slapped them round final yr (Stanford and Oregon State)
CAL AT WASHINGTON STATE
Dec 5, 2020; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears vast receiver Nikko Remigio (4) stands proud his tongue as he leaves the sphere after defeating the Oregon Geese at California Memorial Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Oct. 1): Straight out of the Lure Video games 101 handbook. We count on the Cougars to have their minds on the current previous (a house date with hated Oregon), their eyes on the speedy future (a go to to USC) and their deal with every part however the job at hand in opposition to an opponent they dispatched handily final season.
OREGON AT ARIZONA
Sep 25, 2021; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Arizona Wildcats operating again Drake Anderson (8) scores a landing in the course of the second half in opposition to the Oregon Geese at Autzen Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Oct. 8): Longtime Oregon followers are properly conscious of this system’s historical past in 6 desert, and somebody will undoubtedly transient Dan Lanning. However will gamers who had been in kindergarten when Dennis Dixon’s knee buckled take critically this seemingly innocuous Week Six job, which instantly follows a house recreation in opposition to the Geese’ chief nemesis (Stanford) and precedes a wanted bye week? We’re skeptical.
WASHINGTON STATE AT USC
Sep 18, 2021; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars vast receiver Calvin Jackson Jr. (8) is tackled after a primary down by USC Trojans linebacker Drake Jackson (99) within the first half at Gesa Subject at Martin Stadium. Necessary Credit score: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Oct. 8): Mix a simple win final yr in Pullman with the season-defining problem awaiting USC one week later — a visit to Utah — and now we have the final word Trojans entice. If nothing else, it ought to provide a peek inside Lincoln Riley’s ongoing try to alter the tradition and create accountability.
CAL AT COLORADO
Oct 16, 2021; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes security Mark Perry (5) celebrates his turnover with defensive lineman Jalen Sami (99) and linebacker Marvin Ham II (7) within the third quarter in opposition to the Arizona Wildcats at Folsom Subject. Necessary Credit score: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Oct. 15): Mediocre groups can encounter entice video games, too — and that’s exactly the expectation right here. The Golden Bears blitzed CU final season in Berkeley, will probably be contemporary off a bye and casting a watch forward to their triple-whammy stretch in opposition to Washington, Oregon and USC.
STANFORD AT UCLA
Dec 19, 2020; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia (91) pressures Stanford Cardinal quarterback Davis Mills (15) as he scrambles to throw a move throughout time beyond regulation in opposition to the UCLA Bruins on the Rose Bowl. Necessary Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Oct. 29): The Bruins will both be flying excessive or utterly deflated every week after going through Oregon in Eugene in what may very well be a matchup of ranked groups. Alongside comes Stanford, prepared for its thirteenth victory over UCLA up to now 15 years.
OREGON STATE AT WASHINGTON
Oct 30, 2021; Berkeley, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers head coach Jonathan Smith seems on from the sideline in the course of the second quarter in opposition to the California Golden Bears at FTX Subject at California Memorial Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Nov. 4): This shouldn’t remotely resemble a entice for Washington after its loss in Corvallis final season. (For that matter, no recreation ought to be a entice for UW.) And but, we suspect that’s precisely the way it will play out because the Huskies emerge from a bye and have their sights set on Oregon the next week.
STANFORD AT UTAH
Sep 4, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Stanford Cardinal operating again Austin Jones (20) runs the ball within the second quarter in opposition to the Kansas State Wildcats at AT&T Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Nov. 12): On the brief listing of easily-identified entice conditions. We count on the Utes to be within the playoff race at this level, with next-level buzz about their upcoming journey to Oregon. After they performed name-our-score in opposition to the Cardinal final season, urgency will probably be sorely missing.
ARIZONA AT UCLA
Oct 30, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans vast receiver Kyron Ware-Hudson (10) runs the ball forward of Southern California Trojans linebacker Hunter Echols (31) in the course of the second half at United Airways Subject at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports activities
(Nov. 12): The ultimate entice of the convention season is about within the Rose Bowl, with the Bruins gearing up for USC the next week and the Wildcats staggering into city with a sub-.500 file. However Arizona has been recognized to conjure a next-level efficiency in Southern California. This appears like the proper spot.
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