USC didn’t get much of a spotlight on ESPN’s College GameDay until the show reached the business end of its picks, but when the panel finally weighed in on Saturday’s matchup with Washington, the Trojans got the nod from nearly everyone in the room.
No. 18 USC hosts the Huskies in prime time after both teams took home losses in Week 4.
USC fell to Oregon, while Washington dropped its home game against Minnesota. That has given Saturday’s meeting a sharper edge, especially for a Trojans team that could see its season veer badly off course with another defeat.
Pat McAfee was among those backing USC, and he said the response to the Oregon game could fuel Lincoln Riley’s team.
"I was very close to picking Washington. Actually, this changed during the show.
I think USC was attacked for being like, ethically wrong in the way they hit Dante Moore, and then there was a fist fight and then the reaction. I think Lincoln Riley can use that as motivation, give me a USC to get a win over Washington, and I picked Lincoln Riley back to back weeks now.
This is the first time I've ever done that on the show," McAfee said.
Kirk Herbstreit went the other direction and made the case that USC’s defensive issues are still too glaring to ignore. He pointed directly at the Trojans’ front and third-down numbers before taking Washington in the upset.
"You guys see that clip at USC talking trash to Oregon before the game started? They need to quit getting excited about the trash talking and worry more about the execution, because defensively through five games, USC starting defense line one and a half sacks.
Gary Patterson's not getting anything from his defensive front. 99th in third-down defense. So I'll be the guy.
Demond Williams, even though they're coming off a lost to Minnesota, they go to the Coliseum and upset USC," Herbstreit said.
Herbstreit was the lone picker on the show to take Washington over USC in Los Angeles.
The rest of the panel leaned the other way. Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, McAfee, and celebrity guest picker Caitlin Clark all selected the Trojans, with Howard saying Lincoln Riley’s team would respond after last week’s loss and Saban pointing to the fact that both teams are coming off disappointing defeats.
"I think that Lincoln Riley is on the hot seat after losing last week to Oregon, I think the team will respond and USC will win. Fight on," said Howard.
"Yeah, I think both teams have disappointing losses last week, but I think USC is gonna win it," Saban said.
USC and Washington kick off from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 4:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 3.
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