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Steve Megargee, sports writer for Rivals.com, has compiled a list of what he figures to be the best 15 games of the season. Three USC games make the cut: Nebraska, Cal and UCLA. Inside, we’ll go further in depth into these three match-ups giving you the juicy details. We’ll tell you what’s up, who’s who, and what to look out for…

You’ve arrived at the Trojan DePo – Keep your hands and arms inside the bus at all times.

USC at Nebraska, Sept. 15th:

This game will mark the fourth meeting ever between the two historical-heavyweights. USC is up in the series 2-0-1 (in 1970 the two played to a tie in the LA Coliseum). The last time the Trojans played in Lincoln was in the 1969 season, when they beat the Huskers 31-21.

X-Factor: An old foe in a new uniform. Ex-Arizona State QB Sam Keller will start as a Husker for the first time after sitting out the 2006 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Keller last completed over 2000 yards and connected for 20 TD’s in his first seven games of the 2005 season, before he was side-lined with a broken thumb and lost the starting spot to Rudy Carpenter.

USC at Cal, Nov. 10th:

Did someone say weekender? November 10th will mark that fateful weekend, where Cardinal and Gold fill the bars and flood the once peaceful Hippie streets of downtown Berkeley. USC’s most contentious Pac-10 rival, Cal will seek revenge as they were just edged out from the 2006 Pac-10 title by the Trojans. Nate Longshore is a solid QB, especially with receiver DeSean Jackson at the other end. Expect USC safety Taylor Mays to keep an eye on Jackson, to stop any potential explosive play.

The bears still smell the blood from 2003, when they kicked a field goal to beat the then ranked #3 Trojans in tripple over-time. They were the only team to beat the Trojans in 2003, as USC went that year on to win a split national-championship with LSU.

X-Factor: Marshawn Lynch. Yes, I know he’s gone and that’s the point. Thank goodness he decided to forgo his senior season for the NFL. Gone with the “hella” explosive Lynch are his 1,350 yards and 11 TDs.

UCLA at USC, Dec. 1st: Civil Rivalry

It’s not about the damn bell, people! Okay…it sort of is. Last year UCLA snapped USC’s seven game winning streak by defeating the Trojans in the final game of the season, effectively keeping USC out of the National Championship game. UCLA pretty much stole the title right out of John David Booty’s hands. Plus UCLA took the “Victory Bell” (the trophy changes hands each year to the winning team) and painted it an awful powder blue. Shameful. This year the Trojans have home field advantage, and Booty’s bound to be pissed off.

X-Factor: USC must take a lesson from Gump, and “Run Forest! Run!”. It was UCLA’s defense against the run that stopped SC last year. The Trojan offense was held to a predictable passing game, because no progress could be made on the ground. With 10 Prep All Americans on the roster and 12 games into the season there is absolutely no excuse for a repeat of last year. USC needs to develop their running game, make some holes and keep the Bruin defense guessing.