No. 23 USC (8-3, 5-2 Pac-12) at Colorado (4-6, 1-6) 9:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network.
Line: USC by 22.
Series record: USC leads 7-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE:
The Trojans are 5-1 since interim coach Ed Orgeron took over and back in the polls after beating Stanford 20-17 last weekend. USC and UCLA are a game back of Arizona State in the Pac-12 South standings. Colorado needs to win out to become bowl eligible in coach Mike MacIntyre’s first season with the Buffaloes.
KEY MATCHUP:
WRs Paul Richardson and Nelson Spruce each had 140-yard receiving performances in a 41-24 win over Cal last weekend. The Trojans feature a solid secondary led by S Dion Bailey and CB Josh Shaw, a player Orgeron said has “made a difference in our defense.” Richardson has 71 catches for 1,201 yards, which is a new single-season record at CU
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
USC: QB Cody Kessler has found his rhythm the last three games, completing 75 percent of his passes. In that stretch he’s thrown four TD passes and just one interception.
Colorado: QB Sefo Liufau had his best performance since taking over for Connor Wood as he threw for 364 yards against Cal. It was the fourth-best performance by a true freshman in school history. He has eight TD passes and six interceptions this season.
FACTS AND FIGURES:
There just may be snow on the ground for this night game after a winter storm hit the area. According to USC, the last time the Trojans played in the snow was Nov. 30, 1957, at Notre Dame, when the Irish beat USC, 40-12. The temperature that day in South Bend was 20 degrees. The high on Saturday in Boulder is only expected to be 35 degrees. … USC LB Morgan Breslin had sports hernia surgery earlier this week. He was already out for the regular season with a hip injury. … In a 50-6 win over Colorado last season, QB Matt Barkley tied a school record with six TD passes. He’s now with the Philadelphia Eagles. … Colorado halted a 14-game Pac-12 skid last weekend against Cal. … The speedy Richardson tied a school record vs. the Bears with 11 receptions. … This is the latest in the regular season the Buffs have played a night game at Folsom Field.
