Washington Huskies vs Usc Trojans Picks and Predictions December 7th 2024

Southern California, Washington Eye First Big Ten Win

Their Big Ten debuts didn’t go as planned for USC or Washington, but both teams will have a chance to right the ship when they meet Saturday afternoon in Seattle.

Tough Starts in the Big Ten

USC (5-4, 0-1) fell 68-60 to No. 12 Oregon at home Wednesday night, while Washington (6-2, 0-1) saw its five-game winning streak snapped with a 69-58 loss to UCLA the previous evening.

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Trojan coach Eric Musselman, in his first year with USC, remained optimistic despite the loss to the Ducks.

“In order to win a Big Ten game, we are going to have to play hard like (Wednesday) and we are going to have to make some shots,” Musselman said. “We led for 30-plus minutes against a team that’s ranked 12th in the country and against an undefeated team. I thought we gave ourselves a chance to win the game.”

USC had a 53-46 lead with 6:40 remaining, but Oregon closed the game with a 22-7 run.

Standout Performances

Desmond Claude led USC with 22 points, while Chibuzo Agbo added 18, converting all 10 of his free-throw attempts. Agbo remains confident about the Trojans’ potential.

“I think this team is for sure going to win some Big Ten games,” Agbo said. “We may have dropped this one, but we have Washington on the road. We’re going to dial it back in and get back to work. That’s all it is.”

Washington struggled offensively in its loss to UCLA, shooting 38.8 percent from the field and just 3 of 16 from 3-point range. Great Osobor had a solid outing with 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists but was hampered by eight turnovers. Tyler Harris added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“We did enough defensively and rebounding,” Huskies coach Danny Sprinkle said. “We got enough stops to be able to win the game. We got to be better offensively.”

Keys to Improvement

For USC, late-game execution will be critical after surrendering a lead to Oregon in the final minutes.

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Meanwhile, Washington needs to find its offensive rhythm. Despite a strong defensive effort against UCLA, Sprinkle emphasized the importance of converting on the offensive end.

“You can only get stops for so long,” Sprinkle said. “At some point, you got to make shots.”

What’s at Stake

Both teams are seeking their first Big Ten victory and a confidence boost after tough opening losses in the conference. The matchup also marks the continuation of their rivalry from the Pac-12, adding another layer of intensity to the contest.

Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon in Seattle, with both programs eager to establish themselves in their new conference.