The eighth-ranked USC Trojans (8-1, 6-1 Pac-12) welcome the Colorado Buffaloes (1-8, 1-5 Pac-12) to the L.A. Coliseum Friday night hoping to keep the train rolling toward an eventual spot in the Pac-12 title game. USC has rebounded from its first loss of the season (Utah, Oct. 15) with back-to-back wins to keep pace with Oregon, UCLA, and the Utes atop the Pac-12 standings as we head into the closing stretch.

USC is in a seemingly good spot, but it can’t get caught looking ahead. UCLA looms on Nov. 19; the game will lose its luster if the Trojans were to slip up here.

Coach Lincoln Riley has liked the focus of his team this week. He hasn’t sensed complacency in recent too-close-for-comfort wins. The entire group has talked about needing to put forth a complete performance.

The Trojans took down Cal last week 41-35. It was an uneasy closing quarter, as USC went into the fourth up 34-14 and had to convert a third down with just over two minutes left to close out a six-point win. The week prior, it had double-digit leads in the second half twice and let Arizona hang around.

On Colorado’s end, though, this isn’t a game they’ve won with any kind of consistency. Three of the last six meetings between USC and Colorado have been decided by four points or less, but CU is 0-15 all-time against USC

The Buffs are also looking for their first road win since a Dec. 5 win over Arizona during the 2020 season.

Colorado hasn’t beaten an AP Top 10 team since upsetting No. 3 Oklahoma 27-24 at Folsom Field in 2007.

“Their record might not show it, but they haven’t given up on the season yet,” quarterback Caleb Williams said of the Buffs. “Those guys are still out there fighting and so we’re not going to take anyone lightly. No, we’re going to give that team respect and we’re going to go out there and play our game. Regardless of how they’re feeling or what they’re thinking or how they think they’re going to come out or anything like that.

“We’re gonna play our game. Like I said, they’re not a team that has given up. They’re still playing hard. They’re still fighting.”

Look for USC to come out with a sense of urgency all the same.

Here’s everything you need to know for the game.

TV info and kickoff time

Kickoff time: 6:30 p.m. PT

TV network: FS1; fans can also watch the game live on FOX Sports with a cable or satellite provider login

Location: L.A. Coliseum, Los Angeles

Betting odds

Line: USC -34.5

Total: 66.5

Money line: USC -8000, Colorado +2200

Via FanDuel

Expert predictions

ESPN’s FPI gives USC a 98% chance of beating the Buffaloes.

Bill Connelly’s SP+ is calling for a 50-14 USC win.

The Mercury News’ Jon Wilner picked Colorado to cover the huge spread, but USC to win:

The Trojans built a comfortable lead last week, then relaxed and allowed Cal to cover via the back door with a 21-point fourth quarter. We envision USC snoozing at some point Friday night — could be early, maybe it’s late — and the Buffaloes coming in under that huge number.

USCFootball.com’s Tom Haire picked USC to win 51-17:

If a loss to Colorado is essentially unthinkable – and, trust me, it is – what’s the most important outcome for USC this week? On offense, it’s to remain crisp – and healthy. With Colorado’s horrendous rush defense, expect Travis Dye to have a big night. More important, obviously, is for the defense to find some sustained success – and to finish. That means no plays off, no letting up until – hopefully – Riley and his staff have reason to pull the plug. If USC hopes to head to Pasadena next weekend in the right headspace to face UCLA, a positive defensive performance is a must.

BuffZone’s Brian Howell picked USC to win 45-17

“The Trojans give up points, but so did Oregon and CU still only had 10 points with Jordyn Tyson most of the game. It’s tough to see them scoring a lot of points. Twenty points is still kind of that benchmark for CU and they’ve only reached it a couple times.”