No. 19 USC at No. 9 UCLA (-3.5) 8 pm ABC
Daniel: Arizona State really opened up the Pac 12 South and USC and UCLA are both in the hunt. This is pretty much a pick’em game for me. Two really good quarterbacks in this one in UCLA’s Brett Hundley and USC’s Cody Kessler, who is quietly putting together some really big numbers for the Trojans. Whichever defense steps up will win this game. The Trojans and Bruins are 4th and 6th in the Pac 12, respectively, in total defense. I’ll go with the home team and say the Bruins barely get it done against their cross-town rivals. Winner: UCLA 28-24
Houston: The theme for me this week has been looking for teams coming off of a bye week, and I’m not going to change my strategy now. UCLA didn’t play last weekend, but the Trojans are coming off of a Thursday night team in which they looked average against against a bad California team. UCLA playing at home, off of a bye and with a good chance to win their division will be too much for a rebuilding Southern Cal squad that hasn’t had a true bye week since September. Rested Bruins over tired Trojans. Winner: UCLA 34-27
Reed: The Bruins have won two straight in this series but their offensive line has been abysmal and USC’s defense is stout. In rivalry games like this I typically go with the better defense, but UCLA just has more to play for and more overall talent. If the Bruins win their next two, they’ll win the division. Though they haven’t always played like it, UCLA is the best team in the Pac-12 South and they’ll prove it Saturday night. Winner: Bruins 31-28
Tony: As a kid I LOVED this game. Great uniforms, interesting tradition and a blood rivalry. This is as good as left coast football can get when both teams are good – 2014 is one of those years. Kessler has quietly had a great year for the Trojans but defense will win the day. UCLA lead by Myles Jack and Eric Kendricks will carry the day and cover. Winner: Bruins 31-21
