USC Trojans wins if ... the Trojans perform as they have traditionally in season openers under Carroll, who is 6-0 in such circumstances. ... Even if USC does not execute to the coaches’ expectations, the Trojans will exploit the talent disparity. ... John David Booty stays upright. Backup QB Mark Sanchez is out with a thumb injury, so John David Booty might have to see more time than you expect.

Top USC performers

Quarterback John David Booty has been nothing but crisp in camp and is coming off a season in which he completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,347 yards, 29 TDs and 9 INTs. Sophomore C.J. Gable (111 carries, 434 yards, 4 TDs) gets his second straight start in an opener, but he will be complemented by Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford and Desmond Reed and freshman Joe McKnight makes his much-anticipated debut.

Patrick Turner, the veteran of the receiver corps, leads a group that must replace Dwayne Jarrett and Stave Smith, but redshirt freshman David Ausberry has been impressive in camp and sophomore Vidal Hazelton has been solid. Turner caught 29 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns last year. Tight end Fred Davis caught 38 balls for 352 yards with three touchdowns.

Defensively, among the 10 returning starters, the race is on to find the bona fide leader. Free safety Taylor Mays led the team with three interceptions last year. LB Keith Rivers had 85 tackles and two sacks.

USC injury update: TBs Chauncey Washington (shoulder), Hershel Dennis (knee), Broderick Green (stress fracture) and QB Mark Sanchez (thumb) are out.

Idaho wins if ... injuries knock USC to fourth-string players at every position. ... Idaho coach Robb Akey, previously the defensive coordinator at Washington State, brings some of that Palouse mojo. Akey, hired in December, also brings along offensive coordinator Steve Axman, a former UCLA aide. ... Idaho lives up to its name and Vandalizes the Coliseum.

Top Idaho performers

It’s probably not the best time to send out a redshirt freshman at quarterback, but the Vandals will go with Nathan Enderle, who won the job during spring practice. Deonte Jackson and Jayson Bird (137 carries, 506 yards, seven TDs) are the top tailbacks, but they’re bolstered by senior Brian Flowers (Inglewood High, El Camino College), who led Idaho in rushing last season (128 carries, 561 yards, four TDs).

Max Komar, the H-back, is Idaho’s top returning receiver among the wideouts (17 catches, 313 yards). CB Stanley Franks, the 2006 NCAA interception leader with nine in 12 games, could give the young USC receivers some problems (he also had seven pass breakups and one fumble recovery). The Vandals are also counting on senior LB David Vobora, who led the Western Athletic Conference with 134 tackles last year (16.5 for losses) to rank seventh nationally. He also had two sacks and one interception. Linebacker Brandon Ogletree had 48 tackles.

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