The USC Trojans will have their hands full in a must-win game versus the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa has given the top teams in the Big Ten their toughest games this season. Iowa took Indiana and Oregon to the final minutes. There is no margin of error for USC in this game. The College Football Playoff committee may take USC seriously with a win. With a loss, the Trojans will be out of the top 25.
Here are my Week 12 bold predictions for the big matchup between USC football and Iowa:
Jayden Maiava plays well against the Hawkeyes’ tough defense
Iowa has one of the best defenses in the country, and they will challenge Jayden Maiava like he has never been before. Maiava showed last week that he has heart and that singular play might have brought something special out of him. The Trojans have not lost games this season because of him, but they have won games because of his elite play. He has battled adversity very well this season, and he looked like he got back to his elite and efficient play last week. Maiava will outplay Gronkowski in this game and keep the balls out of harm’s way because he is now comfortable extending plays with his legs. Maiava will need to use each of his skill sets against the Hawkeyes. His numbers may not be 300 yards and 4 touchdowns, but he will have one of the more complete performances out of any quarterback this week in the Big Ten leading the Trojans to a huge win.
Makai Lemon has a clutch performance
Last week, Lemon got his swagger back, putting up a dominant performance with 11 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown versus Northwestern. Against an even better Hawkeyes defense, Lemon will need to be at his best. If the Trojans win this football game, it will be because of Lemon making a couple of plays in the 4th quarter. I think last week was exactly what he needed, especially being against a good pass defense in Northwestern. Lemon will show up for Maiava and the Trojans and put another double-digit catch, 100-yard receiving, and at least 1 touchdown game.
Mark Gronowski struggles in this game
Mark Gronowski has been great for the Hawkeyes this season and has had his fair share of late-game heroics. When the occasion arises, he always sets up Iowa in a position to win the football game. He has been a dual-threat star, providing Iowa with something they haven’t had in quite some time. Stability at the quarterback position. He has not thrown an interception in the last two weeks and has scored a rushing touchdown in all 9 games this season. Both streaks will come to an end this weekend. D’Anton Lynn puts together a great game plan, and the Trojans build off two solid defensive outings of late. The Trojans know what is at stake for this game, and rattling Gronkowski and limiting his success will be a huge key to victory Saturday. I think Gronowski will throw two interceptions, one of them coming late, to lose the football game for Iowa.
Eric Gentry has a big game
The Hawkeyes have a dominant run game, and even starting quarterback Gronowski plays a huge part in this physical rushing attack. The Trojans will need to limit this rushing attack to win this game. If they can force Mark Gronowski to win this game through the air, the Trojans will have the advantage. That will only happen with a dominant game from linebacker Eric Gentry. He has been the leader and the backbone of this defense; he will need to step up big against Iowa.
Iowa loses another clutch game at their own hands
Last week, Iowa gift-wrapped the game away to Oregon with a crucial fumble in the red zone. That has been the story for Iowa, good enough to keep the other team’s heart racing, but in the clutch, they can not put the game away. I think this Saturday, it will be the same story for Iowa. With the Trojans playing well against the run in this game, there will be a Mark Gronkowski interception late in the game that will seal the fate of the Iowa Hawkeyes. This game will come down to turnovers and making costly mistakes, just as each high-stakes Big Ten game this season has. Unfortunately for Iowa, it will be them that makes the most mistakes.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Micah’s expectations for USC versus Iowa
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
