All eyes are on the Wolverines (2-1) as they host the Trojans (2-0) in the Big House in their Week 4 game. Their first matchup as the members of the Big Ten Conference is a fresh look compared to their previous Rose Bowl meetings. USC will start as 5.5 points favorites in the odds for the game. All the headlines have been about how the game could bring more trouble for Sherrone Moore, given USC’s start to the season. On the other hand, a tick in the ‘win’ column holds great significance for Lincoln Riley as his team goes from strength to strength. For Riley, ultimately, the end goal for the regular season is to make the Big Ten Championship game.

Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman spoke about Michigan in a podcast on the On3 YouTube channel. Staples, a well-known college football analyst, puts it succinctly: “If USC beats Michigan, they have at least a 60% chance of making the Big Ten Championship game.” pointed by Staples.

Ari Wasserman also talks about the stakes and says that ‘‘Beating Michigan would turn the Penn State game into a 50/50 proposition.’’ Wasserman’s view shows that despite the improved status of the team, the chances for USC’s success in getting to the Big Ten Championship are unclear. In discussing this game, both Staples and Wasserman make arguments insisting that this game means a lot to the Trojans, stressing that a win may mean a great chance to successfully conclude the regular season and begin a powerful playoff run.

USC has been on a roll so far this season. Their season began with a significant win against LSU to which they added a win against Utah State in a very commanding fashion. The Trojans come to the contest with the most potent offense so far. Their defense, which had been lacking in previous seasons, is now showing their prowess.

This is a game that cannot be underscored in its importance. Victory to USC would not only increase their morale but also improve markedly their possibility of featuring in the Big Ten Championship games. The confrontation between the two top teams in the conference could spell much for Lincoln Riley’s Trojans. But more importantly, what would win at Michigan get them regarding their championship hopes? So let us take a closer look at possible knock-on effects.

Impact on big ten championship contention

Winning a game against Michigan will give USC a much better standing in the Big Ten Championship. That is why the Trojans are in a much better position as far as their schedule and opponents are concerned at the moment. This fact allows them to have a less perplexing path through the conference since they do not have to play with Ohio State and Oregon during the regular season.

If they manage to get past Michigan, the pivotal match for USC would be against Penn State. It was also clear that the journey to the Big Ten Championship would also come with very stiff fixtures against other teams such as Nebraska. Fortunately for the Trojans fans, the team has hit all the right notes so far! The offense has never been an issue for Lincoln Riley. He has a knack for getting the best of his QBs. Miller Moss is another addition to the list of excellent QBs Lincoln Riley has coached over the years.

D’Anton Lynn’s addition as the DC has given the team a much-needed change, and the defense is truly showing itself so far. They’d be facing a new starting QB against the Wolverines in Alex Orji. Lynn would hope that the new blood does not get any time to settle against the Trojans. 

That’s all about the USC. Thank you for completing this article, here’s a gift for you. An ES Think Tank Exclusive with Doug Sanders.