Though Alabama is favored by betting sites and fans alike to defeat the USC Trojans in Arlington, Texas, next weekend, Sporting News begs to differ.

Writer Lisa Horne predicts that whoever is named the Alabama starting quarterback will have growing pains against the Trojans in Week 1:

Unless Kiffin deviates from his predictable and safe playcalling for his new quarterback, especially in that quarterback’s first game, bubble screens will be the doom of Alabama’s offense.

Horne predicts a final score of 38-33 in favor of the Trojans.

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, a former head coach at USC, will certainly have a lot of work to do with his new quarterback.

But saying a team will score 38 points on Alabama’s stout defense may be the even bolder prediction Horne made.

USC QB Max Browne is no Deshaun Watson, after all.