After taking a brutal 41-27 hit from Oregon last week, the USC Trojans are staring down another challenge: our very own Huskies are rolling into town for a Big Ten clash at the Coliseum. USC’s Week 4 loss was their first at home since the 2023 season, and now they’ve got to face the Dawgs.
Can USC and Michigan Stop the Bleeding?
The Trojans’ home-loss streak breaking against Oregon was a big deal. That 41-27 defeat had to sting, and the pressure is absolutely on with the Huskies coming to town for another critical Big Ten matchup. This ain’t just another game for USC, it’s a statement about their season.
Meanwhile, up north, Michigan is licking its wounds after Iowa pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback against them. Week 5 is shaping up to be a real proving ground for some big-name programs, with “coaching hot seat” whispers starting to get louder and conference play heating up. Everyone’s asking if these top teams can bounce back, and for USC, the answer better be ‘yes’ if they want to avoid a real slide.
Klatt Breaks Down Ohio State’s Deep Threat and Alabama’s Road Test
Joel Klatt dropped his Week 5 picks, and he’s not holding back. He’s calling Ohio State to take down Iowa 35-13, and he’s even got them covering the 14.5 point spread. Now, you know Kinnick Stadium can be a graveyard for top-five teams. Just ask Oregon and Indiana from last season. But Klatt says this is a different beast for Iowa, and the reason is all about Ohio State’s deep-threat game, especially with Jeremiah Smith tearing it up. This dude is leading the entire FBS with 617 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns through Week 4. That’s just absurd! Klatt highlights how Ohio State’s past deep threats like Carnell Tate, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson have consistently exploited Iowa’s defense, giving up 54 and 35 points in their last two matchups. Ohio State needs to run the ball effectively, but Klatt feels the matchup highly favors them because Iowa has to manipulate its defense just to deal with Smith.
Switching gears, Klatt also picked Alabama over Mississippi State, 35-28, with Bama covering a -5.5 spread. This is a big road test for Alabama, but Klatt loves what he’s seeing from quarterback Keelon Russell. Russell, in his first year as a starter, boasts a 177.5 QB rating! Klatt says he’s “dynamic,” clearly running Kalen DeBoer’s offense like a champ. Plus, Russell’s already had a road start, facing Kentucky and handling some early bumps, so he’s got that experience in his pocket. But don’t sleep on Mississippi State. Their QB, Kamario Taylor, is “unbelievable,” “gosh he’s good,” according to Klatt. They can run the ball, and they’ll be at home. While Alabama has seen mobile QBs before and done well against guys like LaNorris Sellers and Ashton Daniels, Klatt isn’t expecting a blowout here. He just thinks Alabama is a better team than Missouri, and this will be the best team Mississippi State has faced.
So, yeah, Week 5 is shaping up to be an absolute rollercoaster. For us Seattle fans, all eyes are on that Huskies game against USC. Can they capitalize on a struggling Trojans team and make a statement in the Big Ten? You know we’ll be watching every snap, screaming our heads off for the Dawgs!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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