LOS ANGELES (AP) Utah is the unbeaten No. 3 team in the nation, riding an eight-game winning streak and a world of confidence. The Utes are on the road this week against a .500 opponent with an interim head coach and three losses in its last four games.
And Utah is still an underdog to Southern California in the odds-makers' eyes.
Even during a season of utter upheaval for USC, the Trojans' storehouse of top talent still gets everyone's respect, including that of the cautious Utes (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12).
''I don't think that anyone would argue (against the fact) that year in, year out, they're the most talented team in the Pac-12,'' Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.