USC and UCLA will battle for the Victory Bell on Saturday and perhaps no sporting event in Los Angeles generates as much pre-game hype as this annual conference showdown between crosstown rivals. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. at the L.A. Coliseum and the big question is: Who will win?
Palisadian-Post Sports Editor Steve Galluzzo asked Palisades High varsity football coach Tim Hyde who he thought would prevail and why.
“It’s a really tough call and it’s a shame UCLA lost to Arizona State, because it would mean a little more,” Hyde said. “I want UCLA to win but my humble take is that USC will take it. They’ve got too much energy, too much emotion and I have a hunch the comment that Bruins wide receiver Shaq Evans made that “we’re going to try to embarrass them” will add fuel to the fire.”
Hyde believes home-field advantage is a huge factor.
“It’s going to be a fight but I think USC has a chip on its shoulder and there’s gonna be 93,000 people in that stadium so I’m going with USC 23, UCLA 21.
Two other local sports aficionados picking USC are PaliHi assistant principal Russ Howard, who tentatively picked the Trojans to prevail 28-24, and Pepperdine Associate Vice Chancellor Sam Lagana, who is taking USC 24-16.
However, others around town are picking the Bruins to beat USC at the Coliseum for the first time since 1997. PaliHi tennis coach Bud Kling predicts the Bruins will win 37-34; PPBA Commissioner Bob Benton picks UCLA 34-28; Palisades Barbershop owner Joe Almaraz sees it 28-21 in favor of UCLA; and St. Matthew’s Athletic Director Andy Bernstein predicts UCLA 35, USC 21.
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