USC vs. California: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

It has been a disappointing season for the USC Trojans, but interim head coach Ed Orgeron has his team hot on a two-game winning streak.

Behind over 270 rushing yards from running backs Silas Redd and Javorius Allen last week, USC was able to knock off Oregon State 31-14 and move the Trojans' record to 6-3 with four critical contests to go.

If USC's season has been a disappointment, words can't do justice to the awful 1-8 campaign for the California Golden Bears. After losing three contests by a total tally of 127-44, the Golden Bears were at least competitive last week in a 33-28 loss to Arizona.

Here's a look at everything fans should know about the impending Pac-12 clash.

When: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, Calif.

Television: Fox

Live Stream: ESPN3

Betting Lines (via Vegas Insider)

Over/Under: 55.5
Spread: USC (-16.5)

Trojans Injury Report (via USA Today)

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Zach Banner	OL	09/27/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	hip
Victor Blackwell	WR	11/03/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against California	Questionable	ankle
Gerald Bowman	S	10/24/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	shoulder
Morgan Breslin	LB	11/03/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against California	Questionable	hip
Anthony Brown	CB	11/03/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against California	Questionable	knee
Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick	TE	11/03/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against California	Questionable	undisclosed
Sua Cravens	S	11/03/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against California	Questionable	groin
Justin Davis	RB	10/24/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	ankle
Lamar Dawson	LB	10/24/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Kevin Graf	T	11/03/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against California	Questionable	ankle
Steven Mitchell	WR	08/08/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	knee
D.J. Morgan	RB	11/01/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Taylor Ross	RB	11/03/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against California	Questionable	leg
Devian Shelton	CB	09/27/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	foot
Jordan Simmons	G	10/23/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	leg
Shane Sullivan	TE	10/27/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Randall Telfer	TE	11/03/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against California	Questionable	knee
Greg Townsend Jr.	DL	09/27/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee

Golden Bears Injury Report (via USA Today)

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Nathan Broussard	LB	08/25/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	knee
Austin Clark	DT	08/22/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	knee surgery
Matt Cochran	G	11/04/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against USC	Questionable	ankle
Nick Forbes	LB	10/30/2013	is expected to miss the remainder of the season	Out	back
Mustafa Jalil	DT	10/07/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Gabe King	DT	10/25/2013	has left the team	Out	personal
Chris McCain	DE	09/30/2013	was dismissed from the team	Out	disciplinary
Stefan McClure	CB	10/12/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Avery Sebastian	S	09/03/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	Achilles
Sione Sina	DE	08/22/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	knee
David Wilkerson	LB	08/22/2013	has left the team	Out	personal

 

Can USC Avoid a Major Letdown?

On paper, this is a lopsided affair, but Orgeron has to show he has complete control over his young roster, which will surely have its sights set on a showdown with No. 5 Stanford next week.

The Trojans allow just 18.7 points per game, but Golden Bears freshman quarterback Jared Goff is not to be taken lightly. He's thrown for over 2,800 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions and has thrown for 250 or more yards in six of nine games, with a high of 504.

Those numbers equate to college football's No. 8 aerial attack. USC has struggled against competent passing attacks, as evidenced by a 62-41 loss to Arizona State in which Taylor Kelly threw for 351 yards and a score in late September. 

Goff is no Kelly, but with explosive weapons like receiver Chris Harper (62 receptions, 821 yards and five scores) and the Trojans' eyes potentially set on the future, the Golden Bears surely have what it takes to pull an epic upset.

Prediction

In front of a home crowd, the opportunity to knock off a rival such as the Trojans will be a highlight of the season for the Golden Bears.

Unfortunately for California, the Trojans are just hitting their stride.

Sophomore quarterback Cody Kessler a completion percentage of 65.6 or more in his last two games to go with 477 yards and two scores.

This is especially encouraging against a California defense that ranks No. 122 in the nation at 42.8 points allowed per game. Every team has scored at least 30 on the Golden Bears' woeful defense, including the Portland State Vikings.

Kessler and the Trojans will have little issue doing the same, and Goff and Co. will have no chance of keeping up.

Final Score 

Trojans win 35-21