Fair enough, but we have to build the hype some way for a game that looks like a mismatch on paper.
While the Pete Carroll era saw few losing streaks, the Trojans have struggled recently in their first Pac-10 road game on the schedule.
2009 - Washington 16, USC 13
With Matt Barkley out, the Trojans started back-up Aaron Corp. Jake Locker led a game-winning field goal drive in the final seconds.
2008 - Oregon St. 27, USC 21
Jacquizz Rodgers' coming out party led to the Trojans only loss of the season.
2007 - USC 27, Washington 24
The Trojans survived a rainy Seattle day when Terrell Thomas recovers a muffed punt to secure victory.
2006 - USC 20, Arizona 3
The Trojans streak of scoring 20+ points per game is nearly ended, but the ugly win is a portend of USC's undoing later that season against UCLA.
2005 - USC 45, Oregon 13
No problems this year.
2004 - USC 31, Stanford 28
Down 28-17 at half, Matt Leinart was forced to execute a 4th quarter TD drive culminating in a LenDale White score to preserve what would be an undefeated season.
2003 - Cal 34, USC 31
In a triple overtime thriller, the Trojans take their lone loss of the season.
2002 - Washington St. 30, USC 27
In another overtime affair, the Cougars beat the Trojans, which turned out to be the tiebreaker for the Rose Bowl berth that season.
In most cases, the Trojans came in as heavy favorites as they will do again Saturday. While the Cougs are coming off a 14-point loss to SMU and sit at just 1-2, conference play is a different beast.
No one will pick against USC this week nor should they, but if (recent) history teaches us anything, they better not walk into the Palouse expecting to walk out easy winners.
If nothing else, Wazzu has one of the coolest tunnels in college football. (Photo: LA Times)
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