LOS ANGELES -- With less than a month until the beginning of fall football camp for the University of Southern California, the hot topic of the day is the Trojans 2015 schedule. Prognosticators, computers, and gambling establishments are projecting and pontificating how difficult the schedule may or may not be and the win total for the Men of Troy.

Here's how we think the schedule may come down, and make sure you have either have a tall glass of your favorite libation or bottle of Alka-Seltzer if you find yourself getting schedule indigestion.

Game 1 -- Sept. 5: Arkansas State (8 p.m. PDT/Pac-12 Networks)

The good news: Since this is the opening game of the season, it's inconceivable the Trojans could be looking ahead to mighty Idaho the following week, right?

The bad news: Arkansas State has played in the vaunted GoDaddy Bowl game the past four seasons so they're use to postseason play, and the Red Wolves even have the same coach in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010. Yeah, we're reaching.

The whether report: Let's face it, whether Arkansas State is Cupcake City or not, is this the way to get ready for Stanford in two weeks?

Prediction: USC 48, Arkansas State 13

The record: 1-0

Game 2 -- Sept. 12: Idaho (5 p.m. PDT/Pac-12 Networks):

The good news: Nobody will be happier playing Idaho than the Trojans backups and true freshmen, all of whom figure to see expensive playing time in the second half.

The bad news: There isn't any unless a frontline starter goes down with an injury.

The whether report: With Stanford now just one week away, if you find yourself asking whether its Idaho that is the tomato can or Arkansas State, does it even matter at this point?

Prediction: USC 55, Idaho 10

The record: 2-0

Game 3 -- Sept. 19: Stanford (5 p.m. PDT/ABC)

For Steve Sarkisian and the Trojans, the season finale against rival UCLA may decide the Pac-12 South. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

The good news: For the Trojans offense, nearly the entire Stanford defense, the Pac-12's best in 2014, is being replaced (the entire D-line, half the linebackers, and a complete overhaul of the secondary).

The bad news: Four-year starting Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan returns for his final campaign, and if he plays lights out like he did in the second half of last season, the Trojans will have their hands full. The Trojans will also be counting on their own inexperienced placekicker executing in his first pressure cooker game of the season.

The whether report: Whether the Stanford defense is open season for the Trojans potent offense, but one way or another coaching will be a factor here.

Prediction: USC 34, Stanford 31 (overtime)

The record: 3-0, 1-0 Pac-12

Game 4 -- Sept. 26: At Arizona State (TBD/TV TBD)

The good news: There is still a chance the game could be played at night, but then again does it matter in Tempe? OK, how about revenge since the Trojans haven't beaten the Sun Devils the last two outings.

The bad news: Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici -- who threw for 510 yards and five touchdown passes that included the winning 46-yard Hail Mary TD as time expired in the Coliseum -- returns, so let's not even bring up the last time the Men of Troy visited Sun Devils Stadium they were routed, 62-41.

The whether report: Whether this is a potential Trojans Waterloo or not, it remains a major Pac-12 South Division showdown. Does ASU have USC's number?

Prediction: Arizona State 34, USC 27

The record: 3-1, 1-1 Pac-12

Game 5 -- Oct. 8: Washington (6 p.m. PDT/ESPN)

The good news: It's second-year Washington head coach Chris Peterson against former Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian, and the good news is that Sark has the players and Coach Pete doesn't.

The bad news: For attending fans, it's a Thursday night kickoff (6 p.m. PT) in L.A. rush hour, which you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Well, maybe if it was your worst enemy, you might.

The whether report: Based on the schedule, there's an outside shot that one or both teams could be undefeated, but it gets down to whether the Trojans have too much firepower, and whether Sark and Pederson feel the pressure to beat the other.

Prediction: USC 38, Washington 17

The record: 4-1, 2-1 Pac-12

Game 6 -- Oct. 17: At Notre Dame (4:30 p.m. PDT/NBC)

The good news: Anytime you play a game in mystical Notre Dame Stadium, it's a seize the moment for the Trojans, especially when the Irish are still breaking in a new starting quarterback in junior Malik Zaire.

The bad news: It's a night game in South Bend and only the weather gods know what to expect. Last season in a humiliating 49-14 loss to the Trojans in Los Angeles, Malik Zaire came off the Irish bench and threw for 170 yards and scored on an 11-yard scoring run.

The whether report: We'll find out whether the Trojans can overcome the Irish revenge factor in front of the rabid Irish faithful.

Prediction: USC 27, ND 24

The record: 5-1, 2-1 Pac-12

Game 7 -- Oct. 24: Utah (TBA/TV TBA)

The good news: Utah is 0-5 in games played at the Coliseum.

The bad news: A 24-21 upset winner of the Trojans in Salt Lake City last season, the Utes return eight starters on each side of the ball, including the Pac-12's premier running back in senior Devontae Booker, who rushed for 102 yards against the Trojans that also included a 24-yard touchdown gallop.

The whether report: We'll find out whether Utah can make it two in a row, and whether the Trojans don't suffer a letdown after playing Notre Dame the week before.

Prediction: USC 34, Utah 31

The record: 6-1, 3-1 Pac-12

Game 8 -- Oct. 31: At California (TBA/TV TBA)

The good news: The Trojans have been victorious the last five visits into Strawberry Canyon.

The bad news: It's Halloween, the Bears are getting better, and they have a puncher's chance of scaring the heck out of the Trojans.

The home field factor: The Bears haven't beaten the Trojans in Memorial Stadium since 2003 and that was in triple overtime.

Prediction: USC 45, Cal 28

The record: 7-1, 4-1 Pac-12

Game 9 -- Nov. 7: Arizona (TBA/TV TBA)

The good news: The game is being played in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Trojans now know what to expect from a Rich Rodriguez team.

The bad news: If you think that UA head coach Rich Rod isn't one of the top coaches in the Pac-12, you don't know the conference. The Wildcats have played the Trojans tough the last several seasons and veteran QB Anu Solomon returns.

The whether report: It took a late field goal miss by the Wildcats for the Trojans to escape Tucson last season, so we'll find out whether history will repeat itself in LA.

Prediction: USC 35, Arizona 31

The record: 8-1, 5-1 Pac-12

Game 10 -- Nov. 13: At Colorado (6 p.m. PST/ESPN2)

The good news: Colorado is still rebuilding and the Buffs quite there yet under third-year head coach Mike MacIntyre.

The bad news: The game is being played at night in Boulder and weather will be a factor.

The whether report: The Trojans should win handily whether it rains, snows, or hails… unless the Cardinal and Gold are thinking about the Ducks in Eugene the following Saturday.

Prediction: USC 48, Colorado 24

The record: 9-1, 6-1 Pac-12

Game 11 -- Nov. 21: At Oregon (TBA/TV TBA)

The good news: The Trojans finally get a chance to measure themselves against the current perennial Pac-12 power Ducks.

The bad news: The game will be played in late November and the weather in Autzen Stadium will be foreboding. Whomever the new Ducks' quarterback is, he'll now be experienced as the season draws to a conclusion.

The whether report: Is the Oregon “program” still too big for the Trojans? We're about to find out whether that theory is true. Right now, Oregon's offense will be too tough for the Trojans' defense if the Ducks get decent quarterback play.

Prediction: Oregon 37, USC 27

The record: 9-2, 6-2 Pac-12

Game 12 -- Nov. 28: UCLA (TBA/TV TBA)

The good news: This will be a chance for the Trojans to break the Bruins painful three-game winning streak over the Cardinal and Gold and perhaps win the Pac-12 South Division.

The bad news: If the Bruins can make it an unthinkable four in a row over the Trojans, Steve Sarkisian's team probably won't win the Pac-12 South Division, and Sark will be in the crosshairs of fan rage.

The whether report: We'll find out whether the Bruins can actually make it four in a row with a true freshman quarterback. If the Bruins' Josh Rosen can outplay veteran Cody Kessler, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will quickly turn into the Los Angeles Memorial Mausoleum.

Prediction: USC 31, UCLA 27

The record: 10-2, 7-2 Pac-12