USC Trojans vs. Washington Huskies 3 keys to victory: Enter Woody Marks

The USC Trojans travel to Washington for a big road game against the Huskies on Saturday afternoon. After breaking their three-match losing streak with a victory over Rutgers on October 26USC appears to be keeping the momentum rolling toward Seattle. The Trojans are also looking for their first road conference win as they are currently 0-3 on the road.

When the Trojans beat RutgersUSC scored more than 40 points for the first time since their 48-0 win over Utah State on September 7. They scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters as USC’s offense cruised through most of the game. USC was unable to score consistently during their three-game losing streak. If the Trojans can continue to score at a high rate, they should be able to outpace Washington’s struggling offense. The Huskies have scored just 16 and 17 points in their two losses to Indiana and Iowa.

USC running back Woody Marks broke out during the Trojans’ three-game losing skid. During the win over Rutgers, Marks rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns, tacking on 48 receiving yards. It was one of his best performances of the season, despite not breaking 100 yards on the ground. He quietly blossomed this season as the Trojans’ top offensive weapon after transferring from Mississippi State in the offseason. Marks leads the team in receptions with 30 and has 234 receiving yards. USC needs to find a way to continue getting the ball in Marks’ hands if they want to find success on offense.

In each of the Trojans’ three losses on the road to Big Ten opponents, USC had a chance to close the game with a lead late in the second half. If the Huskies keep the game close in the second half, USC shouldn’t let another conference road game slip away. USC coach Lincoln Riley must learn from his past mistakes throughout the season and clean up the play calling mistakes that have haunted the Trojans in late game situations. On the other hand, USC was able to comfortably find itself in the driver’s seat during the game and not have to worry about finishing the game.