USC has plenty of concerns heading into 2013. The quarterback question marks are obvious, a change in defensive alignment always raises at least some possibility for struggle, the Trojans will be counting on some youth in the secondary, and as the spring proved (USC was missing 20+ players to injury at one point and was filling out the two-deep with walk-ons), despite a ridiculously high percentage of blue-chippers, the roster is still tamped down because of sanctions and scholarship limitations, and the Trojans simply won't be able to withstand a run of injuries without a solid drop-off.
One has to figure Lane Kiffin needs a pretty damn good season to keep his job (at least if you believe the hot seat reports we all write), but he'll have at least a decent chance of pulling off exactly that. USC plays only three teams projected better than 30th in the F/+ rankings (two away from L.A., granted), and five of the Trojans' first six games are at home (with only one opponent in that stretch projected better than 52nd). Surviving the Arizona State game will be rough -- I expect ASU to exceed its No. 36 projection by a decent margin -- but if USC can begin the season 6-0, the odds of a 10-2 season (or so) will be quite good. But an early home slip-up to Utah state or Arizona could spell doom.
Even if you, like most, don't really care for Lane Kiffin, USC should be a fun team to watch in 2013. Marqise Lee is amazing, the personnel should translate well to an attacking 3-4 (perhaps the most fun defense to watch, even when it's breaking down), and even if things go wrong, it's sometimes fun watching a blue-blood fall apart, yes? For one reason or another, you won't want to miss many USC games this fall. And will it really surprise you if the Trojans finish in the top 10 despite the naysaying?