There are a lot of questions surrounding tomorrow's game against Idaho, such as "will USC cover the spread?" and "who do you think will win the coin toss?"
The turning point in tomorrow's contest will likely be when the Vandals get off the team bus. Quite frankly, the coin toss may be Idaho's best chance at beating USC.
But after that, it should be all business from there.
Pete Carroll said Monday that Idaho might provide a challenge for his team, being relatively unknown and with a new head coach.
"They can come out here and surprise us on both sides of the ball. We don't know much," Carroll said. "We have to come in with a flexible plan and approach and see where they are and then adjust as the game goes on."
In layman's terms: I'm not sure if they're going to run the football when it's 35-0, or still attempt to put some points on the board. We're not sure what kind of team they are playing from behind.
So with the result of the game far from being in question, there are a few other developments to watch for on Saturday. A handful of positions will be sorting things out and trying to get their acts together in time for the 15th (yes, I am looking past the Vandals), and tomorrow will be a good barometer for those particular players.
The Vandals will be the first test for the most important unit on the team - the offensive line. Without a solid line, Booty won't win a Heisman and the Trojans' bevy of backs won't run wild. As cliché as it sounds, the foundation of a team really is its offensive line.
So far, so good.
"They've had a really good camp," Carroll said. "They can do all the run blocking stuff and they're communication well on [pass-protection]."
That's reassuring to hear.
But there's still uncertainty there. Ryan Kalil, who proved to be a sturdy anchor last year, now plays on Sundays and senior tackle Kyle Williams is gone.
Matt Spanos played well in camp, but a freak arm injury means he won't be on the field Saturday and possibly beyond. Kris O'Dowd - a true freshman - will start in his place.
Only Sam Baker and Chilo Rachal - both of whom are fighting nagging injuries - give the Trojans any semblance of stability on the line.
The short of it: All eyes will be on the makeshift offensive line, making Saturday's game an important opportunity for the line to mesh as a unit.
Tomorrow will also be an important day for USC's running backs corps.
C.J. Gable likely will start, but he most certainly won't be the only back to see carries.
But it's unlikely Carroll will settle on a starter heading into Nebraska. Joe McKnight is not at full-strength and Chauncey Washington is still questionable, which will limit their ability to showcase their skills. But one player could go a long way in distancing himself from the group.
And whoever that may be will be the one who executes the best.
"Make sure that I get my assignments right … if it's a pass play, pick up the man as much as possible. If it's a run play, make your blocks," Stafon Johnson said. "If you do everything you're supposed to, dot your iIs and cross your Ts, everything will come."
Saturday's game will also be an opportunity for two men who won't see the field much this season - Michael McDonald or Aaron Corp - to showcase their skills.
With Mark Sanchez unlikely to make it back in time from a hand injury, one of those two will be on the field when the Trojans have run the score up to five touchdowns.
Corp, a true freshman, was a highly-prized recruit. McDonald, meanwhile, threw one football last year, a fake field goal pass that wobbled into the hands of a wide-open Steve Smith.
If Corp performs well, he may get a leg up on next year's quarterback competition.
Actually, that may be a little premature. Only a little.
But those are three areas to watch on Saturday. So when the game is out of hand by the second quarter (if it's not - well, I'm not going to even think about that), you'll have something to pay attention to.
Other than the scoreboard.
- To comment on this article, visit www.dailytrojan.com or e-mail Grant at tunkel@usc.edu.
