Week 3 Game Prediction USC 38 UW 24, Unfortunately

I wish I could say that I had a better prediction for this game but I
really can't see anyway in which the UW wins against USC on Saturday.
Yes, plenty of people are calling this game their upset special, which
means it won't happen. I know it's fashionable to predict the Dawgs in
a stunning victory over the third ranked Trojans, which would then vault
the UW skyward both in respect and recruiting signaling a bowl game in their
immediate future, but it won't happen.

This game needs to be seen as a barometer for where the UW football program
really is. Are they really the team that had chances to win against LSU or
are the really the team that looked so much like teams of the past few seasons
where any pass happy QB could make mince-meat of the UW secondary?

For the UW to have a chance to win this game they have to make USC put
the ball in the air, pass but at the same time put pressure on their
QB so he doesn't have time to sit back in the pocket and complete passes 15 yards down the field all day. It's a balancing act I know but it's the only way.
USC won at Ohio state because of the run. They ran the ball and took pressure
off the USC passing game. Washington has to be able to stop the run
and keep USC out of 8 minute drives.

The UW at the same time needs to be able to control the time of possession
and make sustained long drives without mistakes. By my estimation, they'll
have to score at least three TD's either offensively or on turnovers and
then hit field goals on almost all their other possessions. The balance
was correct for the LSU game but the red zone execution was terrible;
they'll need to avoid doing the same this weekend.