I say go to USC. I applied there twice and did not get in either time, however, one of my POIs there helped me with all of my applications and really went to bat for me in the Dept and wrote me letters of rec for all programs I applied to.
However, I am also a firm believer in going to the program that you think really fits YOU and will help YOU achieve your goals.
Luckily for me, my visit to U of D sealed the deal because of great faculty, location, courses, funding, and resources.
Good luck making your decision!