[OutsiderFan]

This is why crowning the Condoms before the season starts is a bit premature.  Sure there is talent on that team, maybe more than any other amongst the starters.  But lack of depth can impact in several ways.

1. You lose key guys and don't have the ability to plug in others without experiencing a drop-off in production.
2. You can't practice as hard as you want because you can't risk guys getting injured.  This can make the team less physical.
3. You are forced to play inexperienced guys that will make mistakes at key times.
4. You can't play the schemes you want to play, the playbook gets reduced, and the team becomes more predictable.
5. Lack of depth means playing more starters more, which makes them injury prone.
6. Playing a team with lots of depth can where out a more talented team with no depth.

Stanford has the defense to slow the USC offense.  And I believe will have the OL and RB depth to wear down a thin USC defense over the course of four quarters.  Obviously, whether this happens remains to be seen.

One thing to keep in mind, USC has a history of losing its first conference road game of the season.  Stanford is that game this year.

[OutsiderFan]

This is why crowning the Condoms before the season starts is a bit premature.  Sure there is talent on that team, maybe more than any other amongst the starters.  But lack of depth can impact in several ways.

1. You lose key guys and don't have the ability to plug in others without experiencing a drop-off in production.
2. You can't practice as hard as you want because you can't risk guys getting injured.  This can make the team less physical.
3. You are forced to play inexperienced guys that will make mistakes at key times.
4. You can't play the schemes you want to play, the playbook gets reduced, and the team becomes more predictable.
5. Lack of depth means playing more starters more, which makes them injury prone.
6. Playing a team with lots of depth can where out a more talented team with no depth.

Stanford has the defense to slow the USC offense.  And I believe will have the OL and RB depth to wear down a thin USC defense over the course of four quarters.  Obviously, whether this happens remains to be seen.

One thing to keep in mind, USC has a history of losing its first conference road game of the season.  Stanford is that game this year.