It's always tough to play a road game with significant travel, but ultimately, I don't think USC can keep up in the trenches. The USC offensive line ranks 128th out of 134 teams in terms of pass blocking, which is concerning against a Penn State defense that generates a lot of pressure. Penn State's running game will turn this into a matchup that will require an almost perfect performance from Miller Moss. I have Penn State favored by 6.7 points in this situation.

This is a bad matchup for USC. The Trojans already have lost to Big Ten teams with physical offensive lines and powerful rushing attacks in Michigan and Minnesota, and on Saturday they will get an even better version of that in Penn State. The Nittany Lions rank 18th in the country in rushing (217.8 yards per game). On the other side of the ball, Penn State has the ability to slow USC's passing game, allowing just 157.0 passing yards per game (11th best in the nation). I'll take the Nittany Lions.

Penn State has a major advantage along the lines of scrimmage that will make it extremely difficult for USC to hang over the course of four quarters. Abdul Carter and the rest of this Nittany Lions front should be in Miller Moss' face all day and even if Penn State's offense is slow to get going on the West Coast road trip the ground game should be effective in the second half.

This is a battle of what I consider two of the most overrated coaches in the sport: Lincoln Riley and Jame Franklin. I don't trust either very often but this matchup makes me take a stand. I like this spot coming off a loss for the Trojans in what I’ll consider a must win game to keep their (very) slim College Football Playoff hopes alive. Penn State usually dominates against every team not named Ohio State or Michigan, but traveling to the west coast against a CFB blue blood, let's extend that trend. I'll even call for the outright upset: USC 24, Penn State 23.