USC isn’t just bowl-eligible again, it’s the preseason favorite to win the BCS National Championship.

The Trojans play in the weak Pac-12 South Division which should help them in their quest, but there are tough road games within the conference that could prove stumbling blocks, particularly if the Trojans keep losing key players to injury. 

Here's a look at some key matchups and stretches of the 2012 season.

Must-see matchup: Nov. 3 vs. Oregon

In all likelihood, this will be a preview of the Pac-12 title game. Both teams are overwhelming favorites to win their respective divisions despite the Ducks’ relative youth on both sides of the ball. USC beat Oregon last year at noisy Autzen Stadium. Is it payback time?

Upset alert: Oct. 13 at Washington

The Trojans will be coming off a key game the previous week against their biggest South Division hurdle, Utah. Washington isn’t in the same division so the game won’t have as much meaning, but the Huskies do have quarterback Keith Price and a dark horse cast to win the Pac-12 North.

It's a breeze (easiest stretch): Sept. 1 through Sept. 8 – Hawaii, at Syracuse.

USC should breeze through the non-conference portion of its early schedule. Hawaii went 6-7 in its last year in the WAC; Syracuse went 5-7 in 2011 (1-6 in the Big East).

Brutal stretch: Sept. 15 through Oct. 13 – at Stanford, California, at Utah, at Washington.

Three of these four games are on the road and all four of these Pac-12 opponents should advance to bowl games this season (if Cal doesn’t, coach Jeff Tedford could lose his job). If the Trojans escape this stretch unscathed their only legitimate test the rest of the season will be Oregon.

Complete Schedule:

Sep 1 Hawaii

Sep 8 at Syracuse

Sep 15 at Stanford

Sep 22 California

Oct 4 at Utah

Oct 13 at Washington

Oct 20 Colorado

Oct 27 at Arizona

Nov 3  Oregon

Nov 10 Arizona St.

Nov 17 at UCLA

Nov 24 Notre Dame

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Pac-12 bloggers John Breech and Craig Morgan, follow@CBSSportsPac12 on Twitter.