Pac 10 Fans Home
Pac 10 Football
Pac 10 Basketball
Pac 10 Baseball
College Fansites
Pac 10 Apparel
Pac 10 Tickets

USC Trojans vs Virginia Cavaliers Football Preview

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum used to be a safe haven for USC, free from all of the disappointments that other Pac-10 stadiums entailed.

Save for an out of body experience in 2007 against Stanford, the Trojans made quick work of almost all their opponents at home. Or at least they did until last year.

After an embarrassing 55-21 drubbing at the hands of Stanford and a 21-17 loss to Arizona, USC will try to reclaim the home-field advantage it once enjoyed when it hosts Virginia on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time.

Lane Kiffin will have history on his side going into the match, with the Trojans having taken their last 12 home openers.

However, USC will have to shore up a defense that yielded nearly 600 yards in its first game. Despite many missed tackles by Trojan defenders against Hawaii, Kiffin has kept contact limited in practices during the week to prevent further injuries.

USC dominated Virginia in the teams’ last meeting, a 52-7 thrashing administered by the Trojans in their 2009 opener in Charlottesville, Va. Gone are most of the names that figured most prominently in that game, played 12 months ago on the other coast.

Mike London took over Al Groh’s spot for the Cavaliers and, like Kiffin, secured a win in his first game. London will rely on a veteran backfield to carry his offense in its first road game of the season.

At 6-3, 255 pounds, Keith Payne has the makings of a workhorse back for the Cavaliers. The redshirt senior scored four touchdowns against Richmond. UVA quarterback Marc Verica was steady in the win, completing 24 of 35 passes for 285 yards.

> Browse the selection of Pac 10 apparel & merchandise online as well as Pac 10 tickets through Pac 10 Fans and partner sites.

The Cavaliers have long had a first-round talent or two somewhere on the roster, and this year is no exception. Cornerback Ras-I Dowling is expected to be an early draft pick and one of the best defensive backs that the Trojans will face all season. But the senior’s availability for Saturday is still in question after he missed the Richmond game with a foot injury.

Junior strong safety Rodney McCloud also missed the opener and could sit out against the Trojans. Either player’s absence could be a big blow to a Virginia team that must figure out how to contain USC’s passing attack. Matt Barkley and Ronald Johnson are still riding high after career days against Hawaii.

Saturday will also be the debut of freshman phenom running back Dillon Baxter. The YouTube sensation sat out USC’s first game with a suspension but will be in the mix against the Cavaliers. Marc Tyler holds on to the starting spot at running back after a stellar performance last week.

By Mike Schwartz
DFN Sports Staff Writer