USC vs. UCLA: Conquest Week Has Arrived

Los Angeles has just been given the mecca of college football games, the Trojans and Bruins battling for first place in the loaded Pac-12 South standings. After losing each of the past two meetings, USC is looking to exact revenge on the No. 11 ranked Bruins this weekend in the Rose Bowl.

Dating back to a horrendous streak between 1991-1998 where UCLA won 8 straight, the Trojans have not lost a streak of three-or-more games against their crosstown rivals. USC will rely heavily upon the balanced attack of Cody Kessler (29 TD-3 INT) and 1,000-yard rusher Buck Allen along with 1,000-yard pass catcher Nelson Agholor.

The No. 24-ranked USC Trojans enter UCLA hungry to take control of the Pac-12 South, assuming ASU can slip up along the way. The Pac-12's two most accurate passers (Cody Kessler and Brett Hundley) and most productive rushers (Buck Allen, Paul Perkins) will be on display in what should be a decently high-scoring affair.

This game could also be a great battle of special teams, pitting Ishmael Adams and reigning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, Nelson Agholor. UCLA dominated last time these teams met, led by an impressive rushing effort from Brett Hundley, winning 35-14 in Ed Orgeron's final game as interim head coach at the Coliseum.

USC has a 9-13 record in games in which the Bruins are ranked higher by the Associated Press, and that will be the case again in what could be considered an elimination game from Pac-12 South contention. While USC has a vast array of success in the Rose Bowl, the Trojans are just 7-9 facing UCLA in those hallowed grounds.

As we get set for the greatest rivalry week here on the West Coast, USC has already taken massive steps to ensure the safety of its most sacred symbols of Trojan Pride. #BeatTheBruins

Time to get this party started, Conquest Week has arrived! #BeatTheBruins #USC

A photo posted by Evan Budrovich (@evanbudusc) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:40pm PST