USC's upset formula for Stanford
Containing WR Ty Montgomery one of three keys for Trojans
By Rod Gilmore | ESPN Insider
Icon SMI, Getty Images Both USC's Steve Sarkisian and Stanford's David Shaw have much on the line on Saturday.
As the Saturday showdown between No. 13 Stanford and No. 14 USC approaches, the Trojans' distractions involving suspended cornerback Josh Shaw and former running back Anthony Brown should recede into the background. Why? Because this series has become one of the most competitive rivalries in college football. Besides, this could be a preview of the Pac-12 title game -- with a spot in the new College Football Playoff at stake.
The series has been compelling and competitive since 2007, when then-Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh led the Cardinal to a stunning 24-23 upset over the No. 1 Trojans. Stanford had controlled the series since then by winning five of the past seven games, including a 55-21 win in 2009. But that beat down was an aberration. The past four contests have been decided on the game's last possession, including Stanford's 56-48, triple-overtime victory in 2011. This past year, USC snapped Stanford's four-game win streak and beat the Cardinal 20-17 in Los Angeles.
The head-coaching matchup provides further intrigue. Stanford's David Shaw and USC's Steve Sarkisian are outstanding offensive coaches with different philosophies: Shaw's pro-style, old-school power game contrasts with Sarkisian's up-tempo offense. The coaches met three times while Sarkisian was Washington's coach, with Shaw winning two of those meetings and the past two matchups being decided by four points or less. But things got interesting last year, after Sarkisian accused Stanford of faking injuries to slow down UW's up-tempo attack. Shaw was not amused and publicly fired back at Sarkisian.
Saturday's meeting promises another down-to-the-wire finish. Stanford is a three-point favorite, which makes sense when you consider the Cardinal's recent success and that USC is somewhat like the Empire's Death Star at the beginning of 'The Empire Strikes Back' -- not yet fully operational but deadly when ready. USC is a bit undermanned and young; the Trojans have only 62 of their 67 scholarship players available (most teams have the maximum 85) and will start four freshmen with another nine listed as backups who are expected to play.
So how can the youthful, small band of Trojans pull off the upset over the two-time defending Pac-12 champs? Here are three keys to USC beating Stanford.
1. Contain Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery
USC defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox had success against Stanford the past two years while at Washington. In 2012, his defense held then-No. 8 Stanford to two field goals and 235 total yards in Washington's 17-13 upset win. Last year, Washington allowed Stanford only 279 total yards in a 31-28 loss to the Cardinal.
Wilcox has done a tremendous job in committing eight players to stop Stanford's powerful rushing attack and daring it to throw. The only problem with that plan: Montgomery, who scored twice last year against Wilcox's defense (a 39-yard TD catch and a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD). And the Montgomery problem has grown since then.
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