USC vs. Texas 2018 live stream: Time, TV channel, pick/prediction, and how to watch online

A pair of teams looking to put an early loss behind them meet on Saturday night in Austin, with the No. 22 USC Trojans on the road to face the Texas Longhorns (8 p.m. ET, FOX).

This is the second straight year USC and Texas have faced each other, with the Trojans capturing a 27-24 victory in double overtime in Los Angeles in September 2017. This is USC’s first visit to Austin since 1966.

USC was held to just three points last week in a loss to No. 10 Stanford, while the Longhorns lost their season opener to Maryland then followed up with a 28-21 home win last week over Tulsa. Texas began the year ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press poll but dropped out after that opening loss. The Trojans dropped five spots after last week’s defeat.

Injuries have forced several freshmen into larger roles at cornerback and safety for Texas, which affects their defensive strategies. From head coach Tom Herman Monday, per Wescott Eberts at Burnt Orange Nation:

“There also has to be a fine line when you’re as young as we are in the secondary too of the easiest way to pressure a quarterback is to blitz and, but you’re also leaving a young secondary maybe susceptible to some big plays there.”

USC quarterback JT Daniels suffered a bruise to his throwing hand against Stanford that was still a little tender during practice, though the freshmen was described to be “doing good” per Trojans head coach Clay Helton.

Daniels has a favorite target in fellow true freshman Amon-Ra St. Brown, the wide receiver who struggled with 38 yards against Stanford after 99 receiving yards and a touchdown in the season opener. Those two are among the key players to watch against Texas, highlighted by Conquest Chornicles.

The Longhorns are a 3-point favorite per Odds Shark, and Bill Connelly’s S&P+ picks for Week 3 have Texas beating USC, 27-23. Maybe USC would count that loss, unlike the 2006 Rose Bowl, which was vacated by the NCAA.