UCLA pulled off a 62-33 victory in the matchup last season and seeks back-to-back wins against USC for the first time since winning three straight against the Trojans from 2012-14.

But this is a different USC team than the one the Bruins ran over last year. The seventh-ranked Trojans are 9-1 on the season and one win away from clinching a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. A win sends the Trojans to Las Vegas. UCLA isn’t out of it yet, but the Bruins need some help.

The expectation is for points to be had at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. Both sides boast top-10 scoring offenses. Though they go about it in contrasting styles — UCLA on the ground, USC through the air — the similarities are remarkable, really.

USC gets 7.20 yards a play while UCLA gets 7.16. Both boast outstanding quarterbacks. UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson has hurdled defenders on his way to seven rushing scores this season and added 20 touchdowns through the air, becoming UCLA’s all-time leader in career passing touchdowns this season. USC’s Caleb Williams Williams leads the Pac-12 in passing touchdowns with 31 on the year and has thrown just two interceptions in 342 pass attempts. 

Last one with the ball wins? We’ll see.

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

TV info and kickoff time

Kickoff time: 5 p.m. PT

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

Location: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena

Betting odds

Line: USC -2.5

Total: 76.5

Money line: USC -122, UCLA +102

Via FanDuel

Expert predictions

ESPN’s FPI gives the Trojans a 60.3% chance of beating the Bruins.

Bill Connelly’s SP+ is calling for a 35-34 UCLA win, with this to say on the game:

There are some slight differences between the teams — USC’s offense is better in the red zone, UCLA does a better job of preventing big plays, and UCLA’s special teams unit has been more consistent (which has helped create some excellent field position advantages). But as with UCLA-Oregon a few weeks ago, this is a break-of-serve matchup: Any defensive stop, any forced field goal, is a win. It would be a surprise if either defense ended up with many wins.

247Sports’ Brad Crawford picked USC to win 38-35:

Will the Trojans suffer the same playoff fate the Bruins and Ducks managed last week in the Pac-12 on Saturday? USC is the league’s last remaining playoff hopeful and will have to play one of its best games defensively this season to beat UCLA. Arizona was able to to keep this team in check as a 20-point underdog and win outright. Rivalry games are different and I think you can throw previous results out the window. Give me USC.

CBS Sports’ seven-writer panel went 4-3 in favor of the Trojans. Chip Patterson, who picked UCLA, wrote the following:

USC has looked great beating up on bad teams over the last month, but I’m not sure there is as much of a difference between these two teams as the rankings suggest. The Trojans also have some potential injury issues beyond the absence of running back Travis Dye, and while UCLA’s loss to Arizona is concerning, I do think it was also just the kind of defeat we see in potential lookahead spots late in the year. I think the Bruins bounce back in a big way and steal the win.

The Mercury News’ Jon Wilner picked USC to win:

The Bruins torched USC for 62 points last year, and we fully expect them to top 50 in the sold-out Rose Bowl. The difference this time? Even without injured tailback Travis Dye, USC is plenty capable of matching the hosts touchdown for touchdown. The defenses are comparable (i.e., weak) in preventing third-down conversions, but the Trojans hold a decisive edge in turnover creation. Last touchdown wins … in the third overtime.