Saturday’s number one priority for USC football is to beat the UCLA Bruins. Priority number two: Give Makai Lemon every possible chance to make a big final statement in pursuit of the Biletnikoff Award. Lemon was named one of three Biletnikoff finalists earlier this week with Skyler Bell of UConn and Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State. It is widely believed that it’s a Lemon-Smith race. USC watchers know Lemon is the best receiver in America, but the politics of the award might favor Smith, who plays for the No. 1 team in the country.
Makai Lemon played the best game of any receiver this year
Makai Lemon’s circus-catch-filled display of dominance against Iowa is the best game any FBS receiver has played this year. No one can top it. Lemon made great catches against a highly-rated Iowa secondary to lead a second-half comeback win. It was a masterpiece Jeremiah Smith did not match.
Makai Lemon played well against Oregon and has been consistent
Makai Lemon had two less-than-great games against Notre Dame and Nebraska. Otherwise, he has been stellar, including last weekend’s Oregon game. USC lost, but it wasn’t because of Lemon, who threw a touchdown pass in addition to getting open and making impressive catches.
Jeremiah Smith has the national TV platform against Michigan
Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State face Michigan on Saturday. It’s undeniable that if Smith has a monster game, it will be hard for Makai Lemon to beat him. Go Blue!
Ohio State-Indiana Big Ten Championship Game
If Ohio State and Indiana do meet in the Big Ten Championship Game, Jeremiah Smith gets one additional chance to make an impression on Biletnikoff Award voters.
Squeeze the Lemon vs UCLA
Lincoln Riley obviously has to think about winning a game first. It could be that UCLA will double-team Makai Lemon and force the ball to Ja’Kobi Lane. If that happens, so be it, but if UCLA offers single coverage, the Trojans need to target Lemon and give him every chance to post big numbers.
Run it up
No sympathy for UCLA. Score 50. Do what the Pete Carroll teams did 20 years ago. This team owes it to Makai Lemon to give him the best chance at winning a prestigious award. If UCLA is the victim of this, so be it. The Bruins run a bad football program and have no one else to blame but themselves.
Take control
USC was favored over UCLA two years ago at the Coliseum and was blown out, 38-20. The Trojans need to play with their hair on fire in this game and dominate to the extent that Makai Lemon will get the best opportunity to flourish. Play ball.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Juice the Lemon – USC needs to help Makai win the Biletnikoff vs UCLA
Reporting by Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
