USC isn't THAT dicey....
And if you're worried about dicey-ness, you shouldn't be taking the #42 bus...
If it's a day game, I personally would
--Take the Green Line.
--Transfer to Blue Line towards Downtown.
--Get off at the Pico stop (you'll be on Flower)
--Walk 1 block west to Figueroa (towards the convention center), and cross it.
--Take the F DASH bus south (away from Downtown).
--Get off at Exposition (next to the USC campus, after the bus makes a right on Expo).