Southern California @ UCLA preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2015 ) UCLA 21, Southern California 40

Two teams located just a few miles apart but hurtling in opposite directions, will meet Saturday when UCLA hosts No. 19 USC in their biggest rivalry game of the season. USC has won six in a row, its latest a 26-13 road victory against then-No. 4 Washington, lifting the Trojans back into the coaches poll, where they disappeared after losing their season opener to top-ranked Alabama and then dropping two of their next three.

UCLA also sat in the preseason top 25, dropped out after losing its season opener to Texas A&M and never rebounded the way USC did, losing five of six before beating a weak Oregon State team at the Rose Bowl last week. Both teams also changed quarterbacks during the season -- USC because of ineffectiveness and UCLA because of injury -- and those moves have coincided with the directions each team continues to travel. Ronald Jones II has also been a key part of the Trojan turnaround, as he took over full time running back duties after Justin Davis went down with an ankle injury and has totaled 487 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the last three games. Davis returned on a limited basis last week and figures to be busier against UCLA, giving the Trojans another dimension in which to attack.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: USC -10.5.

ABOUT USC (7-3, 6-2 Pac-12): The offensive highlights by the Trojans have definitely out-shined what the defense has accomplished, and no aspect has been more impressive lately than the USC run defense, which has surrendered a combined 102 yards on 57 carries in the last two games. Porter Gustin had two sacks against Washington and the sophomore defensive end continues to be a rising force for the Trojans, and sophomore defensive tackle Rasheem Green contributed a sack and broke up two passes. Another area where USC should have the advantage over the Bruins are specials teams, as the Trojans lead the conference in punt return average and kickoff coverage.

ABOUT UCLA (4-6, 2-5): The Bruins have had a 1,000-yard rusher three of the last four seasons, but may not have a 500-yard rusher in 2016. Soso Jamabo leads the team with 308 rushing yards on 79 carries, but has been handed the ball less than 10 times in six of the last seven games. Bolu Olorunfunmi has 254 yards on the season, and might have the best shot at 500 yards, considering he's coming off his best performance of the season, rushing for 65 yards on eight carries, but even he took a backseat last weekend to Jalen Sparks, who received 10 carries but only turned those into 24 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. USC's six-game winning streak is its longest since 2008.

2. These teams have met at night just 10 times in 85 previous games.

3. UCLA is ranked 127th out of 128 Division I teams in rushing.

PREDICTION: USC 38, UCLA 14