Arkansas State at USC

The Arkansas State Red Wolves will open the season against USC, which will be the first meeting between the schools ever. Arkansas State is projected at or near the top of the Sun Belt Conference. Second-year head coach Blake Anderson brought the Red Wolves to their third consecutive Bowl game last season, and it marked their fourth consecutive season of finishing over .500, which is a school record. The offense is stacked and loaded, and returns just about everyone. But the defense that allowed well over 400 yards, and 30 points per game last season, must replace three of the top four tacklers, as well as three defensive backs. That will be problematic vs. a USC team. Cody Kessler returns off a record-breaking season last year at QB for the Trojans. USC has just about all of its offensive line in tact from last year, and should score at will in this game against a depleted, and young Arkansas State secondary. While the yards may come easy in Sun Belt action for the Red Wolves, they are on the road, and the depth and talent is working against them. USC rolls.