[tps_title]Utah at USC[/tps_title]
[tps_header]4:30 p.m., Fox Sports One[/tps_header]
NO. 3 UTAH (6-0, 3-0) AT
USC (3-3, 1-2)
4:30 p.m., Fox Sports One
Pointspread: USC by 3.5 points
— Utah is among four teams leading the nation with 13 interceptions. USC quarterback Cody Kessler has been picked off twice in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
— Utah owns the nation’s second-best turnover margin at plus-12. Safety Marcus Williams has four of the team’s interceptions, and cornerback Dominique Hatfield has three.
— Kessler was third in the nation in completion percentage through four games at 73.0 with 15 touchdowns. In the two consecutive losses for USC, the senior completed 61.3 percent of his passes with two scores and the four interceptions. He had only one multi-interception performance in his first 32 games.
— USC could be without receivers Darreus Rogers and Steven Mitchell Jr., who missed practice time this week. Rogers sat out the second half of last Saturday’s 41-31 loss at then-No. 14 Notre Dame with a hamstring injury, while Mitchell missed the contest with an ankle injury. Jalen Greene, who has been converted from a quarterback into a receiver, is expected to play despite a hamstring problem. The Trojans are in search of options behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, who leads the Pac-12 with 758 receiving yards.
— More USC injuries: Left tackle Chad Wheeler sat out Tuesday’s practice with concussion-like symptoms. USC has the conference’s fifth-worst rushing attack with 173.3 yards per game while Utah has the best rushing defense in allowing an average of 113.5.
— This is the Trojans’ second game under interim coach Clay Helton and first at home. Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is being mentioned as a candidate for the permanent job. “I never make any comments on any job speculation one way or the other,” Whittingham told reporters. “Why speculate on speculation? It doesn’t make sense. We’re right in the middle of the season right now.”
— The Utes are enjoying their best start since opening 8-0 in 2010. They outscored Arizona State 20-0 in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s 34-18 victory. Devontae Booker, third in the conference with 130.5 yards rushing per game, gained 118 including touchdown runs of 25 and 62 in the fourth quarter. He also leads the Utes with 23 receptions.
— USC is seeking to avoid losing three straight at home for the first time since losing its last five there in 2000. Its last three-game overall slide was in 2012.
Utah is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Utah is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Utah’s last 17 games
Utah is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Southern Cal is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
Southern Cal is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Southern Cal’s last 5 games when playing Utah
My pick: USC will win and cover
Steve Rivera’s pick: USC will win and cover
Anthony Gimino’s pick: Utah will win and cover
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