No. 25 USC goes up 19-3 over Minnesota but has to hold on late. The Gophers rally behind their backup quarterback and fall just short, 19-17.

Storyline: USC could disappoint in 2011

The Verdict: For a while, this was incredibly accurate. USC needed turnovers to hold off Utah at home the next week, got whipped by Arizona State, and only held off Arizona by a touchdown at home. But in the last three weeks, they have taken things up a notch, whipping California on the road, whipping Notre Dame on the road, then exchanging haymakers with Stanford for four quarters and three overtimes before falling. USC should end up at 9-3 or so thanks to their improved play.