Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CFB Picks, CFB Free Picks, CFB Predictions 11/7/25
- rbowe7447
- Nov 7
- 3 min read
NORTHWESTERN @ USC (USC -14.5, 51)
Southern California, ranked 19th, will start its final four games of the season right in the middle of the College Football Playoff and Big Ten Conference championship races.
Tonight in Los Angeles, the Trojans will take on Northwestern, another formidable defense.
After losing 34-24 at rival Notre Dame and winning 21-17 at Nebraska last Saturday, Southern California (6-2, 4-1) will make its first homecoming since defeating then-No. 15 Michigan 31-13 on October 11.
The Trojans' hard-fought victory over the Cornhuskers contributed to their standing in the season's first playoff rankings.
In the program's first meeting with Southern California since the Rose Bowl Game in 1996, Northwestern (5-3, 3-2) will make its first trip to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1969. In a series that began in 1952, no Wildcats team has ever defeated the Trojans, going 0–5.
The Wildcats are coming off a bye week after their most recent game, which, ironically, was against Nebraska on October 25. In Lincoln, the Cornhuskers defeated Northwestern 28–21, ending their four-game winning streak.
With the exception of a 34-14 loss to Oregon on September 13, the Wildcats' 28 points allowed were most all season. Between the two losses and victories over Purdue, Penn State, UCLA, and Louisiana-Monroe, Northwestern gave up a total of just 42 points. For the season, the Wildcats are giving up just 16.8 points per game on average, the 13th fewest in the country.
After the victory over Nebraska, the Trojans' scoring output decreased to 39.8 points per game, which is still good for eighth-most in the country. With an average of 289.4 yards per game, quarterback Jayden Maiava is still among the top 10 passers in the FBS.
Southern Cal relied on its run game against Nebraska. Northwestern coach David Braun emphasized the Trojans run game as a component that makes the Trojans dangerous. Nebraska held Maiava to season lows of nine completions on 23 attempts and 135 yards.
It's easy to think they're passing the ball everywhere because of the offensive style they employ. "That isn't true," Braun stated. "They have excellent balance. It's a frightening operation, and they're running the ball very well.
King Miller filled in with 129 yards on 18 carries while Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders were both out with injuries. He rushed for 158 yards against Michigan and has now surpassed 100 yards in two of the Trojans' last three games.
With an average of 5.8 yards per carry, which is ninth-most in the country, Southern California's ground game is one of the most successful in college football.
After practice on Tuesday, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley addressed the Northwestern. linebacker group and the Wildcats entire front seven, as a "really smart group" when discussing the Wildcats defense. Tough and physical were how Riley decribed the Wildcats defense.
FREE PICK: CALEB KOMOLAFE OVER 69.5 RUSHING YARDS
Komolafe has 608 yards this season for Northwestern. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry and goes up against a mediocre USC run defense. If Northwestern has any shot in this game, it is with Komolafe having success in the running game and the Wildcats controlling the clock. Even against a pretty good Nebraska defense, Komolafe had 125 rushing yards on 17 carries and he scored twice. Komolafe has gone Over this number in 4 of his last 5 games, averaging 91.6 ypg in those five.
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