LOS ANGELES — UCLA's current seniors were wide-eyed freshmen when the Bruins took down mighty Southern California three years ago. To a man, it's still the finest memory of their football careers.

"That was probably the first time I cried because I was happy," UCLA linebacker Reggie Carter said. "I never understood that before. We caught a pick with about a minute left, and I was crying, and I couldn't believe it. It was unbelievable. I couldn't breathe. It was great."

"That's tough to top," fullback Chane Moline said. "It's definitely unlike anything else in this game."

UCLA (6-5, 3-5 Pac-10), which beat USC, 13-6, in 2006, has a fine crop of freshmen again this fall, along with a three-game winning streak and some sketchy bowl prospects that could use a little enhancement. When the Bruins wear their powder-blue home jerseys into the Coliseum tonight, they have a chance to create another indelible memory against a bunch of Trojans (7-3, 4-3) who look eminently beatable.

Although USC is favored by 13 points, Los Angeles' annual crosstown showdown doesn't seem like a mismatch and that hasn't been the case since coach Pete Carroll's second season with the Trojans.

After two blowout losses to Oregon and Stanford in their last three games, the Trojans are out of the Pac-10 title race and simply hoping for a strong finish to a distressing season.

Even the Coliseum doesn't seem as formidable after the Cardinal's 55-21 victory two weeks ago, ending Carroll's eight-year streak without a loss in November.

"It's a big deal here, finishing well with the season," Carroll said. "So our focus is very keen right now, but that doesn't mean we're not going to enjoy it and have fun with it. That's the whole point. We're here to enjoy the heck out of it and win when we can."

The 79th edition of the rivalry features an elite program in a down year and a struggling program trying to move up.

USC had an extra off week for soul-searching and worrying after its two embarrassments and a graceless win over Arizona State in between.

Carroll's unwavering faith in quarterback Matt Barkley hasn't changed, but even the Trojans' staunchest fans have wondered whether the freshman quarterback was given too much responsibility too quickly.

Although Barkley was rated the nation's top recruit when he landed at USC, UCLA redshirt freshman Kevin Prince has been his statistical superior over the last four games — with a big assist from senior Kevin Craft, who relieved him in a win over Washington to snap UCLA's five-game skid.

Prince has passed for 1,010 yards and four touchdowns with just one interception in the last four games, while Barkley has passed for 697 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions in the same span.