Utah @ USC preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2016 ) Southern California 27, Utah 31

Five of the six teams in the Pac-12 South Division have one loss and two will meet up Saturday when No. 13 USC hosts No. 23 Utah at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Stanford moved to No. 25 in the coaches' poll after handing the Utes their first loss of the season last weekend, while the Trojans bounced back from their only defeat two weeks ago against No. 9 Washington State by defeating Oregon State on Saturday.

Troy Williams led Utah to nine wins last season, including a 31-27 victory against visiting USC, but the Los Angeles-area native lost the starting quarterback job this season to sophomore Tyler Huntley, who hasn't played since suffering a shoulder injury against Arizona on Sept. 22. Williams was back in the starting lineup last weekend against Stanford, but was intercepted twice late in the game to spoil the comeback, and coach Kyle Whittingham wasn't ready to commit to a starter against the Trojans earlier this week. USC has also been dinged by injuries, particularly at wide receiver and the offensive line, but starters are beginning to filter back and the Trojans still have their best two offensive weapons in quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Ronald Jones II. Darnold, who made his first career start against the Utes last season, has been steady but not as spectacular as many envisioned heading into this season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: USC -13.

ABOUT UTAH (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12): The Utes have a difference maker on defense in linebacker Sunia Tauteoli, who recorded 11 tackles in last week's loss to Stanford, including 3 1/2 for losses. He's not only big, fast and athletic, but the 26-year-old is more mature physically and mentally than most of his opponents. Stanford running back Bryce Love rushed for 152 yards against Utah last week, averaging 7.6 yards a carry, but even those were seasons lows, and Love told reporters after the game, “No. 10 was flying around from sideline to sideline,” in reference to Tauteoli.

ABOUT USC (5-1, 3-1): Leading receiver Deontay Burnett is among the injured Trojans they hope to get back on the field this week. He practiced lightly on Tuesday after leaving the game Saturday with a toe injury, the second time this season he has been slowed by injury. Second-leading receiver Stephen Mitchell Jr. returned Saturday after missing two games with a groin injury, but Jalen Greene has remained sidelined the past two games with a concussion, another reason USC burned the redshirt year of freshmen wide receiver Randal Grimes against Oregon State.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Utah leads the nation with 16 field goals and an average of 44.75 net punting yards.

2. Darnold has been intercepted at least once in every game this season, and the Utes have nine interceptions, tied with USC for sixth in the nation.

3. The Trojans have won seven in a row at home against the Utes since its last loss in 1916.

PREDICTION: USC 31, Utah 24