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Football Predictions – September 21-23 WSU, UW, Seahawks, Sunday Night

By Ed Stein

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Russell Wilson #3 and Brett Hundley #7 of the Seattle Seahawks run out of the tunnel to the field prior to the start of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Russell Wilson #3 and Brett Hundley #7 of the Seattle Seahawks run out of the tunnel to the field prior to the start of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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Washington State Football
PULLMAN, WA: Quarterback Gage Gubrud #8 of the Eastern Washington Eagles is tackled by Nnamdi Oguayo #30 and Jesus Echevarria #84 of the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Martin Stadium on September 15, 2018. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

Washington State at Southern California

Randy Sgaraglio –  The Washington State Cougars’  Air Raid offense is in high gear right now. Despite playing on USC’s home turf, I think Wazzou will come away with a victory. Unfortunately, for the Trojans, they have too many replacement positions for this game. Their kicker, Chase McGrath, and safety, Isaiah Pola-Mao, went down with injuries in the loss to Texas.

Adding to their woes, premier LB Porter Gustin will be sitting out the first 30 minutes because he is completing the second half of a one-game “targeting” penalty that was assessed during the Texas game. The only possibility where I see the Men of Troy winning is with the intangibles of increased effort in a Pac-12 conference game and the revenge factor of losing to WSU last year in Pullman.

Ed Stein – These aren’t Pete Carrol’s 2000’s powerhouse Trojans anymore. Last week they lost to an “iffy” Longhorns team in Austin. Before that they lost by two touchdowns at Stanford, only managing three points in the process. The talent just isn’t there as it was in years before.

Lot’s of attention is focused on Mike Leach’s air raid offense and graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew. It’s well deserved. The defense, on the other hand, has flown a bit under the radar. They are very good and should keep the USC score down, possibly to single digits. WSU wins this one and climbs into the Top 25.

Brad Weiss – The Trojans were upset by the Washington State Cougars last year, as both teams went into that game at 4-0, but USC was ranked No. 12 in the country. This year, the Cougars look to have the more balanced team, and graduate transfer Gardner Mineshaw has been a God Send for head coach Mike Leach and his Air Raid offense.

USC looked pretty pedestrian against Texas last weekend on the road, and despite being home for this matchup, they just do not have the talent in the secondary to stop Mineshaw and this offense. Cougars eek out another close one here.

Matt Barry – The Cougars are off to a promising 2018 and QB Gardner Minshew has been great in his first three games running the Air Raid offense. This is their first true test, however, against the Trojans.

The Trojans are 1-2 and at home. They are the more talented team. The Cougars are confident and this would be a huge win for them. I just think that Minshew will have problems against a more talented, more athletic defense on the road. USC wins fairly easily.

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