#4 Oregon Vs. USC : Preview

LaMichael James ran wild against USC last year. Can he do it again?
(Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)

USC comes into Eugene in what promises to be a wild one. The Trojans look to avenge the losses the last couple years at the hands of the Ducks. Last season, in the Coliseum the Ducks came in and got out to a 29-17 half time lead. However, after the Ducks received the second half kick and Darron Thomas threw an interception, USC got out to a quick 15 point flurry to put them on top. It would be the last time the Trojans would score.

Despite the interception, Thomas threw for 4 scores and  288 yards. LaMichael James added 239 on the ground and three rushing touch downs of their own. The win was monumental for the Ducks as they had not won in the LA Coliseum since 2001 and put them one step closer to an eventual national championship berth.

In a losing effort, Matt Barkley threw for 264 yards but was intercepted twice and pressured all night as Oregon forced Barkley to throw, limiting the Trojans to 3.1 yards a carry and Marc Tyler to a total of 69 yards despite his getting into the end zone twice from short yardage.

USC boasts one of the deepest wide receiving corps in the Pac-12. They are going to need that depth as the latest out of the Trojan camp is that Robert Woods is facing nagging ankle and shoulder injuries and according to coach Lane Kiffin there is an "increasing possibility" that Woods will miss the game on Saturday. While SC will miss his productivity if he doesn't play the cupboard is far from bare. Marquise Lee, the Freshman out of Inglewood, CA has accounted for 52 receptions and 732 yards. Lee will have to provide the vertical threat for the Trojans against the Duck secondary which clamped down on Andrew Luck only a week ago.

As for the USC quarter back, Matt Barkley he has already nearly surpassed his output from last season totalling 2782 yards passing on the season. He will have to be a major factor this week if the Trojans are to upset Oregon. Barkley has performed well, his best game of the season coming against Arizona where he completed 82% of his passes and threw for a USC record 468 yards and 4 touch downs.

On defense, the Trojans are faced with the unenviable task of slowing down the Oregon offense which seems to be hitting it's groove. Last week against Stanford, Oregon got off to a slow start but eventually rattled off 387 yards and 53 points against a vaunted defense. LaMichael James rushed for 146 yards and 3 scores on a defense that is the only defense ahead of USC in the matter of rushing defense in the conference.

On the passing side of the ball, it seemed that Darron Thomas has started to hit his stride. Last week he threw for 3 scores against Stanford as well as 155 yards to keep them guessing as to what facet of this dynamic offense was going to strike next. USC will have to be on the lookout for Oregon's own Freshman weapon, De'Anthony Thomas. Thomas has got into the end zone 9 times  already this season and has done so in a variety of ways, ranging from rushing to receiving. None though, bigger to this point than his reception against Stanford. On 4th and 7, Darron Thomas connected with De'Anthony who turned the ball up field for a 41 yard score to continue giving the Ducks separation against a talented squad. He is just another weapon at Coach Kelly's disposal as they look to attack a gifted and talented USC defense.