Southern California @ Colorado preview

THE STORY: USC gave up a school-record 56 points in its gut-wrenching triple-overtime loss to No. 3 Stanford last weekend. Now the Trojans, who dropped to 64th nationally in scoring defense at 26.8 points per game, look to bounce back with a win at Colorado. The Buffaloes have yet to win a conference game in their first-ever Pac-12 season, and they are riding a six-game losing streak for the first time since 2006, when they started the year 0-6.

This is USC’s first Friday night game since 1999, and it’s Colorado’s first-ever game on Friday night. The Trojans lead this all-time series 5-0, but these teams haven’t met since 2002.

TV: ESPN LINE: USC -21

ABOUT USC (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12): If there was one positive for the Trojans to take from the loss to Stanford, it was the offense’s continued dominance. USC scored at least 30 points for the fourth consecutive game and fifth time this season, and running back Curtis McNeal rushed for a career-high 145 yards and two touchdowns. Wideout Robert Woods kept his outstanding season going with 89 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore is tied for second nationally with 10.1 receptions per game, and he’s on pace to break USC’s single-season receptions record.

ABOUT COLORADO (1-8, 0-5 Pac-12): After back-to-back blowout losses to Oregon and Arizona State, the Buffaloes’ tough Pac-12 schedule continues this weekend. Colorado is struggling on both sides of the ball, ranking in the bottom 30 nationally in both total offense and total defense, while allowing 38 points per game. Quarterback Tyler Hansen is one of the few bright spots, as the senior moved into fifth place all-time on Colorado’s career passing yards list after throwing for 285 yards and a touchdown in a 48-14 loss at Arizona State.

EXTRA POINTS

1. USC quarterback Matt Barkley needs 108 yards of total offense to move into third on the school’s career total offense list.

2. The forecast in Boulder calls for snow on Saturday, and temperatures are expected to be in the 30s on Friday evening.

3. The Buffaloes have lost their last four games by an average of 36.5 points.

PREDICTION: USC 45, Colorado 20. The Trojans might struggle initially to get over such a tough loss, but in the end they’ll blow past a weak Buffaloes defense.