Southern California has a chance to show Associated Press voters and the College Football Playoff selection committee what kind of program they have this season when they take on Michigan on Saturday. Both teams have 4-1 records, but the Wolverines are ranked No. 15 while the Trojans are unranked.
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USC has won by double-digits in every game they’ve played this season, except in the Trojans’ 34-32 loss to then-No. 23 Illinois on the road in Champaign, Illinois, on Sept. 27.
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Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore ratcheted up emotions before Saturday night’s game during his news conference on Monday when he told reporters the only reason why the contest was sold out at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was because the Wolverines were in town.
“It’s sold out, but it’s sold out because Michigan’s coming,” Moore said, via Nick Schultz of On3 Sports. “So we’re excited about the opportunity for guys to get to go back home and see family and be closer and friends, but not make it too much of a deal there.”
During his news conference on Tuesday, Riley was asked about Moore’s comments. The fourth-year coach of the Trojans snapped that he didn’t care what Moore said.
“I don’t really care what he says,” Riley said. “We’re looking forward to playing.”
Michigan and USC have met 11 times, with the Trojans winning six games to the Wolverines’ five wins. Michigan beat USC 27-24 in Ann Arbor last season.
Eight of those contests have come at the Rose Bowl, when USC was still in the Pac-10. Michigan is 1-0 in Los Angeles, defeating the Trojans 16-6 in 1957.
Per ESPN BET, USC is a 2.5-point favorite to knock off the Wolverines.
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