Boston College @ USC preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 26, 2009 ) Boston College 13, Southern California 24

They are only two games into the season, but the USC Trojans are already looking at a disappointing campaign if they can’t turn things around quickly. A home-heavy start to the schedule looked like a good way to get things off on the right foot, but a stunning loss to Washington State has the Trojans behind the pack already in the Pac-12. USC will try to get things turned around when it welcomes Boston College on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles are taking a big step up in competition after games against Villanova and Wake Forest but displayed the type of defense in those two contests that could confound the Trojans. USC was held to seven points against the Cougars and is struggling to find a passing game with Matt Barkley off to the NFL. Trojans coach Lane Kiffin named redshirt sophomore Cody Kessler the full-time starter at quarterback this week after flipping back and forth between Kessler and fellow redshirt sophomore Max Wittek.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: USC -14.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (2-0, 1-0 ACC): The Eagles are poised to take advantage of USC’s unsettled quarterback situation with a defense that owns four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The defense asserted itself with a pair of goal-line stands in last week’s 24-10 win over Wake Forest, and the offense slows the pace with Andre Williams and the running game. Williams piled up a career-high 205 yards rushing against Wake Forest and was named ACC Player of the Week.

ABOUT USC (1-1, 0-1 Pac-12): The Trojans managed an embarrassing 54 yards passing in the 10-7 loss to Washington State, which led some to question coach Lane Kiffin’s play-calling abilities as well as the readiness of Kessler and Wittek. Kessler went 8-for-13 for 41 yards and an interception against the Cougars but will not have to look over his shoulder anymore and will have more first-team practice reps with the likes of All-American receiver Marqise Lee. “You won’t see us playing like that on offense,” Kiffin said in a video message on Monday of the Washington State loss and of naming Kessler the starter. “You won’t see that negative energy or anything like that. That’s not who we are.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Trojans are 3-0 all-time against Boston College, most recently claiming a 24-13 victory in the 2009 Emerald Bowl.

2. The Eagles, under first-year head coach Steve Addazio, have already matched their win total from last season (2-10).

3. Lee needs two catches to pass Keary Colbert (207) and move into sole possession of third place on USC’s all-time list.

PREDICTION: USC 24, Boston College 10