BYU is getting far too much credit for coming back against a bad Tennessee team. I cannot tell you whether Kedon Slodis is a true upgrade from JT Daniels, but I do know what I saw when he carved up a competent and well-coached defensive team in Stanford last week. I'd feel more comfortable about this pick if it was at home and without the hook, but the latter is my fault for picking closer to kickoff. I believe in USC against unranked opponents, and Clay Helton looks to have this team believing in him. Ride the Trojans here as the Cougars come back down to Earth.

Kedon Slovis stepped up in a big way in his starting debut against Stanford. Leading the Trojans to victory, he threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns. That was a true mismatch, but now the freshman must make his debut on the road against BYU. The Cougars are coming off a dramatic win over Tennessee and have already faced a Pac-12 caliber opponent in Utah. Grab the points here as BYU holds within the number.

Let’s not anoint freshman Kedon Slovis as the latest in a long line of quarterback luminaries at USC. Nopac 12t after one appearance, as eye-popping as it was. Still, he can regress slightly from the gem against Stanford last Saturday, and the superior Trojans can win by double-digits if they don’t get caught in this potential trap between two big Pac-12 games. The Cougars have scored only two touchdowns in regulation this season and have yielded 504 rushing yards. Slovis need not be pass-crazy in his first exposure to a hostile crowd for his team to succeed.

If you keep doubting USC, you'll keep getting burned. Quarterback Kedon Slovis is an upgrade from the injured JT Daniels, and the Trojans' skill players will run circles around the BYU defense. The Trojans offensive line will play its best game and run away from the Cougars.