No. 4 Penn State tries to take a big step towards CFP against reeling USC

No. 4 Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at Southern California (3-2, 1-2), Saturday 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Penn State by 5 1/2.

Series record: USC leads 6-4.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Penn State would burnish its resume for a College Football Playoff berth with a win. Only the showdown against No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 2 would be considered an impediment to the 12-team field for the Nittany Lions looking at their remaining schedule. A playoff spot is a long shot for the Trojans after a loss at Minnesota where their talent deficiencies on the offensive line and defense were exposed. Lincoln Riley is still looking for a signature victory in his third season at USC, and getting it here would give him the credibility to land the recruiting upgrades necessary to truly contend for national titles.

KEY MATCHUP

Penn State DE Abdul Carter vs. USC’s offensive line. Carter is off to a strong start in his third season with eight tackles for loss and three sacks, and he’ll have a good chance to add to those numbers against a shaky front five for the Trojans. They gave up three tackles for loss and one sack to the Golden Gophers, but those numbers don’t reflect the constant pressure QB Miller Moss faced, including on an interception early in the fourth quarter when it looked like USC was going to extend a 17-10 lead.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Penn State: QB Drew Allar has been solid in new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s system, throwing for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns to one interception. But this is the kind of game, with Big Ten and national championship stakes, where the junior needs to live up to his five-star recruiting ranking and immense potential.

USC: WR Zachariah Branch isn’t generating big plays in his sophomore season, which reflects larger trends for the offense. The Trojans didn’t hit any explosive passes longer than 20 yards against Minnesota’s veteran secondary, and Branch has just three receptions of 20 yards or more this season. He has also struggled as a punt returner, leaving USC to navigate long fields.

FACTS & FIGURES

The most recent meeting between USC and Penn State was in the scintillating 2017 Rose Bowl, when the Trojans scored the last 17 points, including a field goal as time expired, to get a 52-49 win. … USC RB Woody Marks had 134 yards rushing against Minnesota and has topped 100 yards in three of the past four games. … Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton is expected to play after sitting out against UCLA because of an undisclosed injury. The junior is averaging 7.7 yards per carry and has five touchdowns from scrimmage this season. … Moss threw two interceptions versus the Golden Gophers, his first game with multiple picks in six career starts. … The Nittany Lions held UCLA to -9 yards in the third quarter. They have allowed 87 yards and 1.9 yards per play in the third quarter this season.

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