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NU @ USC Prediction Thread

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rmndcat

Junior
Sep 4, 2009
2,805
234
63
After a bye week, the Cats travel to Southern California for the first time since the 2018 Holiday Bowl, which included the Greatest Quarter of College Football Ever™*

But this also is the first meeting between Northwestern and the self-titled University of Southern California* since the 1996 Rose Bowl, which the Cats led into the 4th Quarter before losing to the Trojans, spoiling the Greatest Cinderella Story in College Football History Ever™*.

This time the Trojans are favored, not surprisingly, but looked vulnerable last week against Nebraska. The Cats almost staged a comeback win two weeks ago against that Husker team. The key, as always this season, will be protecting the ball. The Cats' line play and defense should be a strength.

Prediction:

Judd Apatow 24
Zac Braff 27

And, as always, any day that USC loses is a good day.
*- Other opinions are available.
 

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Deeringfish

All-Conference
Jun 23, 2008
21,141
1,383
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I'm oddly optimistic about this game. I think the Cats come in rested and laser focused. Stone will return to a more thoughtful turnover free mindset and the receivers who have shown moderate improvement over the season will run critter routes. Defense has been pretty good all season and the secondary is healthier than ever.

Also, lots of moose this week.

Cats 24
Horses 20
 
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eastbaycat99

Sophomore
Mar 7, 2009
2,523
182
48
From Sports Illustrated, a quote from Mike Adamle reminiscing about the Cats visit to the Coliseum in 1969:

“After Southern Cal had scored its fifth or sixth touchdown and
the Trojan guy and the horse were circumnavigating the interior
of the Coliseum, the horse collapsed in the end zone. You, me
and our trainer, Dick Hoover, were watching from the bench, and
I remember saying, 'My god, we killed Traveler.”

This year, Traveler gets a breather.

NU 27
USC 24
 
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NU'06er

NU'06er

Sophomore
May 2, 2024
176
115
43
I'll go USC 31-Cats 24.

I don't think the Trojans are 14 points better than us, as the spread implies. But I do think we may struggle to force them into playing the style of game we want to play.
 
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AdamOnFirst

AdamOnFirst

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
10,070
1,667
113
USC 28
NU 13

This is the game I feel the worst about for the rest of the year. I don't think we can keep up with USC and I think their defense is underrated. I think this is a horrible matchup for us in general. I also think there is the chance for it to get ugly with a couple explosive plays. It will require an exceptional effort by our back 7 to keep them from scoring quite a bit.
 
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stpaulcat

stpaulcat

Senior
May 29, 2001
35,282
860
113
rmndcat said:
After a bye week, the Cats travel to Southern California for the first time since the 2018 Holiday Bowl, which included the Greatest Quarter of College Football Ever™*

But this also is the first meeting between Northwestern and the self-titled University of Southern California* since the 1996 Rose Bowl, which the Cats led into the 4th Quarter before losing to the Trojans, spoiling the Greatest Cinderella Story in College Football History Ever™*.

This time the Trojans are favored, not surprisingly, but looked vulnerable last week against Nebraska. The Cats almost staged a comeback win two weeks ago against that Husker team. The key, as always this season, will be protecting the ball. The Cats' line play and defense should be a strength.

Prediction:

Judd Apatow 24
Zac Braff 27

And, as always, any day that USC loses is a good day.
*- Other opinions are available.
Click to expand...
I just discovered Zac Braff and I are fraternity brothers from NU. I must have met him in 1996 at a class and fraternity reunion, after Rose Bowl year.
 
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