COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Luckily for Trojans, Kicking Game Has Not Been Needed

It’s a good thing for USC that the Trojans have won their five games by comfortable margins. The kicking team might not have been able to bail them out of close games.

Kicker Adam Abrams has had a pulled muscle high in his thigh, walk-on kicker Adam Rendon also has a sore leg, and punter John Stonehouse had a deep bruise on his kicking foot.

Even the holder, quarterback Brad Otton, is hurting. He has a sore left shoulder and wrist and Coach John Robinson has lately had Stonehouse holding.

Stonehouse says he’s healed, but Abrams is still hurting.

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USC ranks no worse than third in eight major Pacific 10 Conference offensive and defensive categories, and leads in four.

The Trojans are first in total offense with 468 yards a game, in scoring offense with 35.6 points a game, in rushing defense, giving up 89 yards a game, and in scoring defense, giving up 8.6 points a game.

Washington State, USC’s opponent Saturday in the Coliseum, ranks third in passing offense with 273 yards a game and ninth in rushing offense at 129 yards a game.