LOS ANGELES - Even after missing two earlier field goals, David Newbury was confident as he waited on the sidelines for a third try.

Newbury believed quarterback Carson Palmer would move USC down the field, and that he would take the field and make the winning kick.

Newbury was right on both counts, drilling a 24-yarder with 13 seconds left as the No. 11 Trojans beat Colorado 17-14 Saturday.

"I knew this guy (Palmer) would get us down the field and that I had to do it," Newbury said. "This is why I'm a kicker - these moments."

Both Palmer, who completed 25 of 30 for 275 yards and one touchdown, and coach Paul Hackett of USC (2-0) were ready for an overtime, just in case.

"I was hoping it would go into overtime and we could play a little more," said Palmer, who added that the Trojans were confident they would win one way or another.

"It was a little kick (by Newbury), but it was huge," Palmer said.

Said Hackett: "All I was thinking about was overtime. I had no control over whether he would make it."

Colorado's Mark Mariscal left the game tied when he was wide left on a 40-yard field goal attempt with 1:14 remaining.

Palmer drove the Trojans 72 yards to the winning field goal, completing third-down passes of 23 yards and 19 yards to Kareem Kelly, with the second reception putting the ball at the Colorado 21.

Kelly finished with 10 catches for 145 yards.

"Houston is remarkable," said Hackett, who had tried to recruit him for USC. "Imagine what he's going to be like in a couple of years. He is just outstanding."

Houston, who carried 18 times for 100 yards in Colorado's 28-24 loss to Colorado State a week earlier, said: "The one thing you can't get for nothing is experience. Now I have two games under my belt and hopefully I'll get more comfortable and confident with each game."

Colorado has a rugged schedule ahead, facing Washington, Kansas State, Texas A&M and Texas, and Buffaloes coach Gary Barnett hopes his players don't get discouraged by losing their first two games.

"The challenge right now is for us as a team to focus on what we did right and did well and not fall into the trap of pointing fingers," he said. "We played too hard and too well and with too much heart to do that."

The game was only the fourth ever between the two schools, and USC has won all four.

The Buffaloes tried a desperation multiple lateral deep in their own territory when they took the final kickoff, but the Trojans finally smothered Jashon Sykes with the ball at the Colorado 10.

Bobby Pesavento replaced Zac Colvin at quarterback for Colorado with 4:10 left in the third quarter and immediately guided the Buffaloes to a touchdown that evened the game at 14. After throwing an incompletion, Pesavento connected with Dan Graham on a 36-yard scoring play.

USC had gone up 14-7 early in the third quarter, after Troy Polamalu recovered Colvin's fumble and returned it 14 yards to the Colorado 21. The Trojans' Sultan McCullough, who carried 28 times for 91 yards, scored on 5-yard run 2:45 into the third quarter.

After squandering chances for most of the first two quarters, each team scored a touchdown late in the half.

After USC scored 3:47 before halftime, the Buffaloes came back to even it with an 80-yard drive capped by Colvin's 11-yard TD throw to Javon Green.

Palmer completed a 19-yard pass to Kelly and a 26-yarder to Keary Colbert during the Trojans' first-half scoring drive. On third-and-goal from the Colorado 8, Palmer connected with Matt Nickels for the score.

USC had taken the opening kickoff and driven to the Buffaloes' 17, but Robbie Robinson intercepted a tipped pass in the end zone to end that threat. On their second possession, the Trojans marched to the Colorado 13 before that drive stalled, and Newbury missed a 30-yard field goal.

Newbury also missed from 45 yards in the third quarter before making the game-winning kick.

The Buffaloes had a chance to take the lead early, but the Trojans' Bernard Riley blocked Mariscal's 28-yard field goal try with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.

Johnson, Colorado's regular tailback, sustained a toe injury in the Buffaloes' 28-24 loss to Colorado State in the season opener.

USC was coming off a bye, having beaten Penn State 29-5 in the Kickoff Classic two weeks ago.

By KEN PETERS
AP Sports Writer