The USC Scripter Awards are given out by the University of Southern California Libraries as a fundraiser of sorts. They are shown live on the internet every year and are often a bit more entertaining and engaging than some televised awards shows. The award goes to the author of the original work and the screenwriter who adapted it.

USC SCRIPTER AWARDS

Best Adapted Screenplay

Gone Girl (Wesley, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
The Imitation Game (Tripp, Thomas, RU:Wesley)
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Wild

Wesley Lovell: While the Academy may not have been fond enough of Gone Girl to give it a nomination, the precursors aligned pretty heavily in its favor when not singling out an original screenplay for recognition. This group doesn’t try to predict the Oscars, they form a genuine bond with the source and the screenplay before deciding how to vote. I think Gone Girl has the edge, though The Imitation Game has a decent chance of beating it.
Tripp Burton: Usually this award has a strong correlation to the Oscar for Adapted Screenplay, but without leading contenders American Sniper or Whiplash nominated here, this could make for an interesting year. Of the three overlapping nominees, The Imitation Game would seem to be the favorite, between the Harvey Weinstein support, the most Oscar nominations and the generally strong support behind the film. If the USC really wants to shake things up, though, they may give it to surprise non-Oscar nominee Gillian Flynn for Gone Girl.
Thomas LaTourette: As The Imitation Game is the front runner to win the Oscar, I think it will also win here. However, if it did not win, I think it might go to Gone Girl, which definitely won’t be winning at the Oscars.