The USC soccer crew returns to motion tonight for a uncommon Friday contest. What’s extra, tonight’s sport would be the program’s first-ever assembly with Rutgers.

In fact, with the World Sequence additionally going down in L.A. on Friday night time between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, a brand new wrinkle has been thrown into the combo for Southern California sports activities followers. USC head coach Lincoln Riley addressed that in his weekly zoom name with the media this week.

“The Friday kicks right here aren’t superb in LA,” he stated. “I do know there’s plenty of different nice sporting occasions that is occurring on Friday, however these clearly present some challenges in LA which can be distinctive to our place. So these are those I am actually not a fan of, however we’re not going to have too a lot of these. That is in all probability going to be a as soon as each two, three years kind of factor.”

Nonetheless, it can possible be Rutgers that has to beat the larger problem with the scheduling of this sport. The crew from New Jersey has needed to not solely fly throughout your entire nation however it can additionally must play a sport that may kick off at 11 p.m. Japanese time. Thus, the physique clocks of the Rutgers gamers will probably be examined in an excessive method.

Rutgers did come to L.A. a day early to attempt to restrict the affect of the journey however one has to marvel simply how a lot that may assist them tonight.

“We usually by no means exit a day early,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano stated earlier this week. “Simply, we keep on Rutgers time. However when you have got an 8 o’clock begin Pacific, I do not suppose it is prudent to remain on Rutgers time.”

USC followers have little sympathy for the Scarlet Knights although. Lengthy street journeys east to Michigan, Minnesota, and Maryland have already taken their toll on the Trojans this season and now they appear to learn from internet hosting an east-coast crew.

In fact, when Penn State got here to Los Angeles earlier this yr, they have been capable of escape with a 33-30 time beyond regulation win regardless of the cross-country journey. Nonetheless, that sport kicked off at 4:30 p.m. Japanese time on a Saturday afternoon not at 11 p.m. Japanese on a Friday night time. What’s extra, Penn State is a significantly better crew than Rutgers.

So let’s prepare for this uncommon contest by first what the oddsmakers say. Then, we’ll have our prediciton for tonight’s contest.

All odds courtesy of FanDuel.com.

A month in the past, this sport regarded prefer it is perhaps an essential one within the general scope of the Large Ten race. Now, although, with each groups coming off of three-game dropping streaks, it’s now solely essential to the 2 groups concerned.

Nonetheless, USC desperately must reap the benefits of this chance. The schedule makers of the Large Ten did Rutgers completely no favors by making them journey throughout the nation on a brief week and play a sport that kicks off at almost midnight Japanese time. That ought to be an enormous edge for the Trojans.

If Rutgers has any hope of profitable, will probably be their working sport. Star working again Kyle Monangai is without doubt one of the greatest RBs within the nation.

Already with 845 yards and 10 TDs this season, he’ll be who the Scarlet Knights lean on to attempt to dictate the model of play in tis sport. Can he exploit a USC protection that has struggled at occasions towards the run?

The issue for Rutgers, although, is that accidents have decimated their receiving corps. Thus, they could be only a one-dimensional offense tonight, which might make life a lot simpler on USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.

On the opposite facet of the ball, Rutgers does not have a fantastic protection. They offer up 385.5 yards per sport, good for under 91st within the NCAA. What’s extra, they’re 98th nationally towards the run by giving up 170.3 yards per sport on the bottom.

If there was ever an evening for Lincoln Riley to function the bottom sport, this might be it. He must lean on Woody Marks and Quentin Joyner to ascertain dominance on the bottom early after which use the passing sport to open issues up.

Miller Moss has only a 2: 1 TD: INT ratio in Large 12 play however at dwelling this yr he is been higher throwing six TDs and solely two picks. Can he get again on monitor tonight towards a suspect protection? USC followers actually hope so.

In the long run, enjoying at dwelling in a late kickoff will probably be what places USC excessive towards Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have misplaced 9 of their final eleven street video games and that does not bode effectively for the guests from the east coast.