After throwing a pass, Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle, left, is hit by USC’s Lawrence Jackson and Rey Maualuga. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

The final score: USC 38, Idaho 10.

The USC Trojans were dominant throughout Saturday’s season opener, beating a better than expected Idaho Vandals.

It wasn’t the trouncing everyone had expected from a number one team. Still USC dominated both sides of the line throughout Saturday’s opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, hoisting the Trojans’ home-game win streak to 34.

Despite missing their starting center (Matt Spanos) and losing their most seasoned tailback (Chauncey Washington) and receiver (Patrick Turner) to injuries, the game began in typical Trojan fashion with USC scoring on its first three possessions, with touchdowns from Stafon Johnson, C.J. Gable and Vidal Hazelton.

Then the Trojans’ inconsistency began to show, with slow offensive second and fourth quarters. Midway through the second quarter, after a pair of USC drives were held by the Idaho defense, a fan in the row in front of me yelled down at the field incredulously “There’s no punting against Idaho!” A sentiment shared by the rest of the 90,000+ Trojans in attendance, who made their feelings known with a resounding “boo”” that rang throughout the stadium.

Defensively USC was solid but not overly impressive, keeping Idaho’s offense to just 265 yards and 15 first-downs, compared to USC’s 421 yards and 27. Although Clay Matthews blocked a field-goal kick and there were seven recorded pass deflections, USC’s defense only recorded only one turnover compared to Idaho’s three. Creating turnovers was a problem for USC last season, with only a +4 margin in 2006. And the Trojans only recorded two sacks against what should have been a far-inferior Idaho offensive line.

Kudos to Idaho’s freshman — Nearly half of Idaho’s total offense came from freshman tailback Deonte Jackson, who gained an impressive 99 yards against USC’s defense. This game was also a trial by fire for Idaho redshirt-freshman quarterback Nathan Enderle, who went 16 of 34 for 155 yards against a USC defense that many claim to be best in the nation.

Still there were flares of brilliance that hinted at the Trojans’ potential. The USC receiving corps of Ausberry and Hazelton were impressive. Hazelton officially earned the right to be compared to Dwayne Jarrett after an improbable leaping, one-handed grab in the end zone. Fullback Stanley Havili and tight end Fred Davis also made their presence known; Havili catching Booty’s third touch down pass and Davis with a 35-yard reception that set up C.J. Gable’s first quarter TD.

In a break from last season the Trojans ran more than passed, netting 215 rushing to 206 passing, with C.J. Gable and Stafon Johnson making the biggest impression. Touted freshman tailback Joe Mcknight also saw time on the field, with his first catch looking very much like a Reggie Bush style reverse. But McKnight later showed his “green” losing a fumble early in the fourth quarter. Desmond Reed (36 yds, 5 carries) and Allen Bradford (15 yds, 8 carries) also saw their share of the field. Ronald Johnson saw 1 carry for 4 yards.

Overall USC looked very good. Not great. Did they look like the number one team in the nation…not yet. Will they soon? They better. In two weeks the Trojans travel to Lincoln to face a #20 Nebraska that just put up a whopping 625 yards against Nevada. Turning over the ball against the Huskers would be a far costlier mistake.

*stats from usctrojans.com