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The USC Trojans have been heavy favorites in each of their first two games and though they have won both games, they have yet to cover. But the Trojans have an easier point spread hurdle to jump next week in Palo Alto against the No. 16 Stanford Cardinal.
The Trojans opened as a 10-point favorite over the Cardinal, their smallest point spread to date.
USC was a 40-point favorite over Hawaii and won by 39 points, and their 13-point win over Syracuse didn't cover the 25½-point spread.
The Trojans could have some revenge on their mind, as they have lost three straight and four of the last five games against Stanford. Last year the Trojans held tough with the Cardinal, but fell 56-48 in three overtimes at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.
One of the quarterbacks from that classic started on Sunday for the Indianapolis Colts. The other, Matt Barkley, has 10 touchdowns in his first two games this season, and has similar Heisman Trophy hype as Andrew Luck did last season for Stanford.
Saturday's game is at 4:30 p.m. PDT and will be televised by Fox.
For more news and notes on USC football, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles.