Ryan Hochgesang

Despite odds, Trojans can still defeat Seminoles

he moment Trojan football fans have been anxiously awaiting is now almost here.
USC's season opener against Florida State is now a mere two days away, and the Seminoles enter the game ranked third in the country, 20 spots ahead of USC.
But while the game opened in Vegas with the Seminoles favored by 15 points, that number has slowly dropped a couple points, and belief that the Trojans could open the season with a win seems to be growing.
Obviously, it won't be easy. While Florida State has lost several key performers from its 1996 team, the Seminoles are one of those few teams that can absorb the losses and reload with great young talent.
Additionally, Florida State returns one of the best receivers in the country in E.G. Green, and two of college football's best defensive players in Daryl Bush and Andre Wadsworth.
All this spells trouble for the Trojans. Yet Saturday's game should be extremely competitive.
It will be tough for the Trojans to upset the Seminoles, but it would also be foolish to believe that it can't happen.
Here are 10 reasons why the Trojans should not be discounted on Saturday:
1) The cornerbacks.
If any pair of cornerbacks can contain E.G. Green, it's Daylon McCutcheon and Brian Kelly. These guys make passes to the outside tough, so the Seminoles will have to utilize their slot receivers and receivers out of the backfield.
If McCutcheon and Kelly can contain the Seminoles' passing game, Florida State will have a tough time moving the football.
2) 1996.
A season-opening loss to Penn State seemingly deflated the Trojans last year, and they don't want to see history repeat itself.
The team's confidence the rest of the season could depend in large part on the outcome of this game.
3) Thad Busby.
It's tough to be the best quarterback on the field when you're not even the best quarterback on your team. The Trojans have to be thankful they're facing Busby rather than the more-talented but less-experienced Dan Kendra.
Busby's thrown 17 interceptions compared to only 21 touchdowns in his college career, and completed 55 percent of his passes last year.
4) Running backs.
A deep and talented backfield is led by Delon Washington, who will look to finally play up to his potential in his senior year.
Plus, freshman Malaefou McKenzie has outstanding big-play potential and could see a lot of action.
5) Chris Brymer and Travis Claridge.
With these guys manning the guard positions, there should be plenty of running room inside for those running backs.
Brymer and Claridge are one of the best guard tandems in the country, and they both need to have big games on Saturday.
6) The Coliseum.
The Trojans don't exactly have the most daunting home-field advantage in the country, but a home game's still a home game, and the Trojans will have a stadium full of frenzied fans behind them.
7) Dee Feaster and Travis Minor.
Nothing against these guys, it's just that they're not Warrick Dunn. Feaster rushed for only 60 yards on 20 carries as a sophomore last season; and Minor, who hails from the same high school as Dunn, will be playing in his first collegiate game as a true freshman.
8) John Fox.
Sure, he's only thrown two passes so far in college, but the guy earned the job with a solid preseason and has plenty of potential.
9) Attitude.
The Trojans seem more focused and together this year after enduring the struggles of 1996. They'll just need to carry that intensity into Saturday's game.
10) The linebackers.
Chris Claiborne will be one of the best linebackers in the country this year, and he's only a sophomore. Expect Florida State's running back to become very familiar with his shoulder pads on Saturday.
The 1996 season ended with Mark Cusano knocking down a Notre Dame pass to give USC a victory, and more big plays can be expected from the junior this season.
So there you have it -- 10 reasons why Saturday's game should be very close, and possibly even end in a Trojan victory.
And I didn't even have to mention the numerous players Florida State will be missing due to off-the-field problems.
So while the Seminoles are beating the Trojans in NCAA suspensions, USC will look to earn its victory where it matters, on the field.