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

USC-UCLA week holds the globe hostage each year, but especially this Saturday as the two jockey for Pac-12 positioning and much more.

The 7-3 Trojans enter on a two-game winning streak, but a two-game losing streak in the historic rivalry as the program has suffered from sanctions and the like while the Bruins have ascended the collegiate hierarchy.

Led by Brett Hundley, the Bruins are 8-2 and winners of four straight. Those two losses have been of the respectable variety, too. One came against Oregon, the other at the hands of an upstart Utah program that also took down the Trojans.

Really, this one needs no selling. History calls Saturday night between old rivals.

Man of the State 

Hundley is the main star of Saturday night's marquee event, and for good reason as the junior has turned up his play a notch in recent weeks.

Over the course of his past four games, Hundley has thrown six touchdowns to just one interception. A major reason for the improvement in play as the season has worn on falls on the shoulders of those around him, as explained by Michael Lev of the Orange County Register:

Hundley now sits with a gaudy 72.1 completion percentage with 2,547 yards and 17 touchdowns to four interceptions. He keeps defenses honest thanks to his ability on the ground, too, having torched most opponents on the way to 564 yards and seven scores.

Now on the hunt to make it three in a row against the Trojans, a note provided by Max Meyer of Neontommy.com also touches on the wild state of USC over the course of the past few years:

For Hundley, an important part of the legacy-building process pertains to his ability to take down the Trojans one last time, as captured by Jack Wang of the L.A. Daily News:

The Trojans have not exactly been world beaters this season, but Steve Sarkisian's team does rank 38th in the nation with just 23.3 points allowed per game on average.

For Hundley, Saturday presents him with one of the biggest hurdles of his season, not to mention of his career. He will need to be at his best through the air and on the ground in the face of a strong rush for him and his team to prevail.

First Out of the Gates

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It would be silly to suggest that the first team to score wins Saturday night, but for the Trojans, that might just be the key to success. 

It sure has been this season. The Trojans run away from most opposition early and often, outscoring adversaries 129-22 in the first frames this year.

Now, two of the team's three losses have seen the Trojans lead after the first frame anyway, but here is a critical detail—for all of their explosiveness with Hundley, the Bruins struggle when it comes to playing from behind.

Case in point, both of the Bruins losses this season. The team trailed by eight after one quarter against Oregon and never recovered. The deficit was seven after the opening frame against Utah on the way to the same result.

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In other words, quarterback Cody Kessler (2,919 yards, 29 touchdowns to three interceptions) and lead back Javorius Allen (1,184 yards and eight scores) need to come firing out of the gates and never let off the pedal. 

In theory that should not be wildly difficult, either, as the Bruins defense ranks 79th in terms of points allowed this season. If Sarkisian's attack can draw first blood, it may turn out to be a very long night for UCLA.

When: Saturday, November 22, 8 p.m. ET

Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Television: ABC

Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 61

• Spread: UCLA (-3.5)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Jordan Austin	OL	08/15/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	hip
Kenny Bigelow	DT	07/09/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	knee
Victor Blackwell	WR	10/10/2014	has left the team	Out	personal
Anthony Brown	RB	08/28/2014	has left the team	Out	personal
Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick	TE	08/07/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	academics
Lamar Dawson	LB	08/26/2014	is out indefinitely	Out	knee
Ajene Harris	WR	11/16/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against UCLA	Questionable	hamstring
Tre Madden	RB	11/16/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against UCLA	Questionable	toe
D.J. Morgan	RB	09/16/2014	has left the team	Out	personal
Jabari Ruffin	LB	08/11/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	knee
Josh Shaw	CB	11/19/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against UCLA	Questionable	disciplinary/legal/ankles
Jordan Simmons	G	11/16/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against UCLA	Questionable	knee
J.R. Tavai	LB	11/17/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against UCLA	Questionable	knee
Chad Wheeler	T	10/27/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	leg

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Randall Goforth	CB	09/22/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	shoulder
Simon Goines	T	11/16/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against USC	Questionable	ankle
John Johnson	DB	08/03/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	shoulder
Steven Manfro	RB	09/03/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Kenny Orjioke	LB	10/01/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Austin Roberts	WR	08/15/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	knee

Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.

Prediction

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The problem with this contest is that it reflects the overarching narratives of the two programs as of late. 

USC has remained relatively the same all season—erratic. Since mid-October, the Bruins have looked the part of a title contender most figured they would before a rocky start to the season.

A player such as Hundley dictates the outcome of a game such as this. So long as he remains in a clean pocket and turns the rare collapses into gains on the ground, USC may have a hard time keeping the Bruins in check.

This one is going to be grittier than most would expect. Both programs dearly need the win, but right now the Bruins have the offensive firepower to outgun the Trojans with everything on the line.

Prediction: Bruins 34, Trojans 30

Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.