Arizona Wildcats (7-4) vs. USC Trojans (8-3)
Saturday, December 5, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: USC -7.0

Sam’s Take (53 – 19):

If Oregon is able to beat Oregon State in the War for the Roses, the winner of this Saturday’s game between USC and UA will likely head to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl. Each team could finish as high as second in the conference standings or as low as sixth. Although the Trojans haven’t lost to Arizona in nine years, the series has been closely contested in recent years (last two meetings have been decided by a touchdown).

I like USC in this game for two main reasons. First, the Trojans can still finish with 10 wins this season and I believe that would provide the program with positive momentum heading into the off-season. After last week’s ending against UCLA, ‘SC seems to have found an emotional spark, and I’m sure Pete Carroll will have his team ready for the season finale. Second, the ‘Cats will be without RB Nic Grigsby for yet another game. Last week against Arizona State, it was clear that the ‘Cats missed their home run threat, and the offense just isn’t the same without him.

The Trojans defense is starting to make plays again, and ‘Zona QB Nick Foles will be less than 100%. I expect ‘SC to contain RB Keola Antolin, Greg Nwoko and the rest of the ‘Cats running attack, which should allow the Trojans D to pin its ears back and attack Foles.

The normally stout UA defense has allowed a 100-yard rusher in three straight games, and I expect RB Joe McKnight to make it four. Once McKnight gets going, Matt Barkley, Damian Williams and the ‘SC passing attack should have plenty of opportunities.

Arizona has led in the fourth quarter of every conference game this season, and I have no doubt Mike Stoops’ club will keep this one close. But in the end, I expect USC to pull away late for another one score victory over the ‘Cats.

Prediction: USC 31 – Arizona 24

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Devin Ross - Ross is a shutdown corner capable of eliminating an opposition’s feature receiver. Damian Williams will be his biggest test of the season.

USC Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Anthony McCoy - McCoy figures to be closer to 100%, and I expect him to have a big day against an undersized UA defense.

Dave’s Take (54 – 18):

Gone is USC’s aura of invincibility, and in its place is a lack of certainty on both sides of the ball.

The defense had an outstanding game against the Bruins, but than again, UCLA doesn’t have a particularly high-powered offense. When going up against the Pac-10’s three top offenses in total yards in Stanford, Oregon State, and Oregon, USC has given up 55, 36, and 47 points, respectively.

Arizona ranks fourth in the conference in total yards.

Can USC’s defense build on the momentum of the UCLA game, or will it fall back into giving up points to another high-powered attack? Despite Arizona’s solid defense and USC’s less-than-stellar offense, I think the Trojans have gotten healthy enough on offense to put up some points in this one; but if the game turns into a shootout, I don’t love USC’s chances.

I don’t think it will turn into a shootout, though. I get the feeling that USC will be the more focused team in this one playing their third straight home game and potentially for a Holiday Bowl berth. Arizona, meanwhile, is coming off of the intense low of losing to the Ducks at home to end their chance at a Rose Bowl to the intense high of beating hated rival ASU in the closing seconds. I just don’t know how much more they have to give in this regular season, and they’ll nead to be at their best to beat USC at the Coliseum, even if this is an off year for the Men of Troy.

Prediction: USC 28 – Arizona 21

UCLA Bruins (6-5) vs. USC Trojans (7-3)
Saturday, November 28, 7:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: USC -13.0
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (49 – 19):

Thanks to Pete Carroll and Rick Neuheisel college football fans have been reintroduced to one of the most visually attractive rivalries in all of sports. Let the pageantry commence, as Powder Blue faces Cardinal Red in the Coliseum this Saturday!

Rivalry games are always intriguing regardless of the participants’ win-loss record, but this year’s edition of the City Championship looks more evenly matched than it has in a while. USC has struggled in virtually every phase of the game in recent weeks, while UCLA has steadily improved (albeit against far weaker competition). As I study this game, four areas stand out.

1. QB Play – Contrary to most “insiders” expectations at the start of the season, freshmen QBs Kevin Prince and Matt Barkley have produced very similar seasons. Barkley has completed 57.9 % of his passes while throwing for 2035 yards 11 TDs, 10 INTs in nine games. Prince counters with 1739 yards 6 TDs 5 INTs and a 57.6% completion percentage in nine games. Barkley may have a slight edge, but it seems fair to suggest that no team has a decided advantage at QB.

2. Turnover Margin – UCLA ranks 17th nationally in turnover margin at .73, while ‘SC ranks 79th nationally at -.30. This statistic can be vital to deciding the outcome of a game, so the Bruins hope the season trend continues.

3. Sacks – Despite the struggles of the ‘SC defense, Rocky Seto’s unit still ranks 3rd nationally in sacks (32). The UCLA o-line has looked better in recent weeks, but the Bruins still rank 85th nationally in sacks allowed (27). If ‘SC can consistently pressure Prince, the Trojans will have an excellent shot to win the game.

4. ‘SC run game versus UCLA run defense – amidst all the chaos for ‘SC this season Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford have played very well. The UCLA D ranks 64th nationally against the run, so ‘SC should be able to establish a ground game.

Regardless of what the uniforms say, I see two very evenly matched teams in this one. The UCLA defense is playing opportunistic football and I also like the Bruins special teams. But if WR Damian Williams is even close to healthy, the Trojans offensive attack becomes a completely different animal. Williams was recently cleared to play by doctors and he is a true difference maker in the passing and punt return game.

Ultimately, I believe the Trojans will do just enough to retain the Victory Bell in a very closely contested game.

Prediction: USC 27 – UCLA 23

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: LB Akeem Ayers - Ayers has been fantastic in recent weeks, and I expect him to line up on the edges in certain situations to further boost the pass rush.

USC Player to Keep an Eye On: FB Stanley Havili - Havili has battled injury problems all year but he is still a dynamic playmaker for the offense. I expect him to have a bigger role this week.

Dave’s Take (50 – 18):

It’s been a pretty lopsided series over the past two decades with each side taking its turn as the dominant one; from 1991-1998, the Bruins won eight straight; from 1999-2008, the Trojans have won 9 of the 10. The lone exception, as USC fans will painfully remember, was in 2006, which cost the team a trip to the BCS Championship Game.

That, though, is what is missing from this year’s game; a team playing with something to lose. From 2003-2008, despite knowing they had a strangle-hold on the series, the USC Trojans and their fans were still anxious about the game against their pesky rival because a slip-up always meant potentially missing out on the Rose Bowl (or, in 2006’s case, the National Championship).

UCLA is already bowl eligible. USC is already out of Rose Bowl contention.

Yes, a UCLA win solidifies their bowl resume, and yes, a USC win keeps them in the running for a trip to the Holiday Bowl. But that’s just not as high-stakes as we’re used to.

So who comes out on top when the only motivatation is the purest type; pride and bragging rights? While they certainly haven’t inspired blind confidence this season, I can’t pick against USC in this spot.

While it is important to acknowledge how awful the Trojans’ defense has been, it’s also important to point out that the teams they’ve been torched by (Notre Dame, Oregon State, Oregon, Stanford) do all have top-notch offenses. UCLA ranks 88th in total yards and 90th in points scored; nearly identical, in fact, to the Arizona State offense that USC completely shut down in Tempe.

You will also remember however that that was a game that USC could have easily lost thanks to the outstanding play of ASU’s defense. UCLA’s defense is also capible of coming up big, and Kevin Prince may not gift-wrap the Trojans seven points like Danny Sullivan did on an ill-advised throw for a pick-6.

Because of UCLA’s defense, I’m not going to say it will be easy for the Trojans. I do however expect the defense to stymie UCLA’s offense all day, and I’m expecting them to be playing with a huge chip on their shoulder after getting embarassed at home against Stanford last time out.

And lastly, while I still give UCLA plenty of credit for their big win in Tennessee, it was the only win of their six over a team with a better-than-.500 record (barely at 6-5, and with @Kentucky looming, even the Vols may end up at 6-6). UCLA has played plenty of very good teams tough this year, but they’ve always proven to be a noticeable step behind when playing against top-notch teams.

I’m not ready to say that USC is no longer a top-notch team, and I’m not ready to put UCLA over that hump yet. If they prove me wrong on the field, though, all of Rick Neuheisel’s talk about the gap closing between the two schools won’t just be empty words anymore.

Prediction: USC 24 – UCLA 13

USC Trojans 7-3 Overall (4-3 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Stanford 55 – USC 21

Next Week’s Opponent: BYE

“I’m not sure I have the right words to describe being humbled like this. I don’t really know where to put it. … We have fallen apart and given our opponents the opportunity to do whatever they want, but you have to give Stanford a lot of credit.” – Pete Carroll

It’s happening to Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Florida State. So why did we believe that a humbling season was inconceivable for this USC program? Is it because Pete Carroll recruits so well? Get over that; the programs mentioned above are full of 5-star talent. The reality is USC needs time to develop, and not just the players. Rocky Seto is 33 years old, and in his first season as a defensive coordinator. Jeremy Bates is 33 years old and this is his first time coaching college football (a much different animal than pro ball).

For those that think this is the beginning of the end for USC football, keep dreaming. While the rest of the Pac-10 is recruiting at a much higher level than in recent memory, ‘SC is still comfortably leading the charge on that front. In fact, Pac-10 fans can thank Pete Carroll for forcing their schools to hit the recruiting trail that much harder.

Having said all of that… Saturday’s drubbing will require the eternally optimistic Pete Carroll to come up with his best motivation material. The truth is USC got beat by a better team this past weekend. The Cardinal were the more physical team (as they often are), and it was clear to me that they wanted it more.

Matt Barkley had a miserable game (21/31 196 yards 1 TD, 3 INTs), and there was miscommunication throughout the afternoon on offense (particularly Barkley and the receivers). One of the few positives from Saturday was the play of Joe McKnight (16 carries, 142 yards 1 TD), who showcased his signature speed and explosiveness even in a losing effort.

Defensively, I refuse to pile on with excessive criticism the way most will, because frankly, Saturday’s result had a lot more to do with Stanford’s offense than it did USC’s D. This is where you tip your cap to Toby Gerhart, Andrew Luck and Jim Harbaugh for a well-executed gameplan.

Now the Trojans will have a bye before the rivalry game with UCLA. The way this season has gone, earning the Victory Bell against the Bruins is no sure thing.

USC Trojans 7-2 Overall (4-2 Conference)

This Week’s Score: USC 14 – Arizona State 9

Next Week’s Opponent: Stanford

Well it certainly wasn’t pretty, but the USC Trojans did escape Tempe with a win. Pete Carroll knows his team will have to be better in the final three games, but Oregon’s loss at Stanford puts the Men of Troy right back in the Rose Bowl picture.

While the ‘SC offense looked as bad as we have seen in quite some time, Carroll was more pleased with the defense: “To get back on track defensively is really obviously important to us,” Carroll said. “It’s such a good night to get four turnovers.”

S Will Harris picked off two passes and took one of them to the house for a game-changing touchdown. His fantastic effort on the night landed him Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week. This was an important game for the defense considering the way the last three games went (ND, OSU, UO), and now the unit has some momentum heading into a tough final stretch.

Offensively, it is hard to pinpoint any one area where things went wrong. The o-line had a difficult time protecting Matt Barkley all night, and the true freshman turned in his worst game of the season (7/22 112 yards 1 TD 1 INT). If you take away WR Damian Williams’ phenomenal individual effort on the TD, Barkley would have thrown for a minuscule 37 yards.

The running game was decent (146 yards), but neither RB Joe McKnight nor RB Allen Bradford could consistently break past the Sun Devil front seven. It was clear to me that the laundry list of injuries took their toll on the offense Saturday, and the absence of TE Anthony McCoy was especially evident. For the second week in a row, TE Blake Ayles had a key drop in the passing game. The talented sophomore will not stay on the field much longer if that trend continues.

After what seems like a lifetime on the road, ‘SC returns to the friendly confines of the Coliseum for the last three games of the regular season. Obviously the Trojans have fared well at home under Carroll, but this week’s opponent has also enjoyed playing on ‘SC’s home turf recently. Jim Harbaugh’s Stanford Cardinal may be playing the best football of any club in the Pac-10, and they are the only team to win at USC in the last eight seasons.

USC Trojans 6-2 Overall (3-2 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon 47 – USC 20

Next Week’s Opponent: @Arizona State

How do you put what just happened this Saturday into words?

Domination obviously comes to mind.

We saw something that many of us never thought we’d see in the Pete Carroll era; a USC team get completely manhandled.

Seeing a final score of 47-20, had I not seen the game, I’d have immediately thought that Matt Barkley must have finally shown signs of being human, and finally had a true-freshman implosion.

Quite the contrary. Matt Barkley may not have been spectacular, but 21/38 for 187 yards, 2 TD, and 1 INT was not a meltdown at all. And the interception came on the last throw of the game, it had absolutely no effect on the outcome. No Joe McKnight fumbles. No quirky bounces. The Trojans just got dominated, through-and-through.

Perhaps most interesting was the fact that heading into the half, the score was 24-17 as a 17-17 tie was broken with a little under two minutes left by an Oregon touchdown. This Trojans team under Pete Carroll has been one of the best 2nd half teams in the country; they make the necessary adjustments, and their conditioning shines through as the game wears on.

But not this time. Pete Carroll and the defense had no answer for Chip Kelly’s dynamic offense, and the offense was completely shut down in the second half by Nick Aliotti’s stingy defense. The Oregon Ducks out-coached and outplayed the USC Trojans in the second half by a wide margin; again, something I never thought I’d see under Pete Carroll.

With so many great defensive players lost to the draft last season, many of us were expecting a drop off this year. That drop off didn’t occur at the beginning of the year, so most of us just assumed this unit remarkably hadn’t missed a beat despite breaking in so many new starters. But as the last three games’ awful defensive stats have shown us, this defense is what it is; a group of talented athletes that lacked experience and needed to learn the ropes and gel together.

So where do you go from here? Quite simply, you just try to pick up the pieces and finish the season strong.

USC Trojans (6-1) vs. Oregon Ducks (6-1)
Saturday, October 31, 5:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: USC -3.0
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (36 – 14):

With all due respect to the Arizona Wildcats, the Pac-10 champion will most likely be decided in Eugene this Saturday. In fact, there is still a chance that the winner of this game will be playing in Pasadena come January, and not for the Rose Bowl. Who would have thought this kind of scenario would be possible for either school about a month ago?

But here we are. College GameDay will be on hand for a potential Halloween classic at Autzen with BCS implications.

The Oregon Ducks enter Saturday’s game playing the best football of any team in the Pac-10. Chip Kelly’s explosive offense can score at any moment and Nick Aliotti’s defense has been wreaking havoc all season. Throw in superb special teams, and it’s easy to see why the Ducks are currently alone atop the Pac-10 standings.

While QB Jeremiah Masoli still isn’t 100%, he looked great against Washington and chances are he will be close to full speed by Saturday night. The Ducks will certainly look to utilize Masoli’s mobility against USC, as the Trojans have historically had trouble with dual-threat QBs. If Masoli can get the ‘SC defense to bite on a few of his well-orchestrated ball fakes, the field could open up for RB LaMichael James. ‘Quizz Rodgers proved that the Trojans are not impenetrable, so it should be interesting to see how Oregon’s rushing attack fares against the ‘SC D.

USC is finding its rhythm on offense at the perfect time. The Trojans have opened up the playbook more in the last three games (@ CAL, @ ND, OSU), which has allowed QB Matt Barkley to make some big plays in the vertical passing game. The ‘SC offense will be Oregon’s biggest test of the season, and I am most interested to see how the Ducks pass rush performs against the ultra-sturdy Trojan o-line. ‘SC will probably try to establish the run right away with RB Allen Bradford and RB Joe McKnight, and if they get going, look for big plays to be available for Barkley off of play action fakes (it wouldn’t surprise me to see Ronald Johnson get a deep ball thrown his way early).

Oregon has all of the ingredients to beat ‘SC this Saturday, and as we all know, the Ducks play at another level at Autzen. In many ways, I get the same feeling about this game that I did in 2007 when Oregon flat out beat the Trojans. But even with all of that said, I am going with USC for one major reason: Pete Carroll. Under Carroll, the Trojans have won this conference SEVEN straight times, and he knows how to prepare his team better than any coach in America when the stakes are highest. Until a Pac-10 team can beat ‘SC when it matters most, I cannot pick against them.

Prediction: USC 31 – Oregon 28

USC Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Blake Ayles - Anthony McCoy’s status is still up in the air, so Ayles could be a big part of the passing attack this week.

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Jamere Holland - This game has added significance for Holland (transferred from ‘SC), and I’m sure the speedy wideout will be looking to make a big impact.

Dave’s Take (39 – 11):

How do you pick a side in such an evenly matched clash of Pac-10 superpowers? My inner dialogue is going something like this;

Oregon looks to be the team playing at a higher level right now, especially on defense.

True, but Oregon hasn’t faced an offensive line this strong yet. This could be the week that the pass rush gets slowed down, and those injuries in the secondary finally catch up to the Ducks.

Fair enough, but Oregon also has home field advantage, and we all know how crazy Autzen can get, especially when it comes to big games.

Yes, bet USC has already proven that they can beat tough teams on the road, they’ve beaten Ohio State, Cal, and Notre Dame! Not to mention, USC’s record against ranked opponents since October 19th, 2002 is a remarkable 32-2! Pete Carroll’s squads never lose the big game.

Never, except for those two times. Let’s see, Texas comes to mind… and oh, that’s right, THIS team, two years ago. The Ducks have beaten the Trojans 6 of the last 11 times they’ve played!

Yeah, but the Trojans have beaten the Ducks 4 of the last 5 times they’ve played!

And I go on like this for hours. The only conclusion I ever seem to come to is that this is going to be one hell of a game.

But alas, I am forced to make a decision, as there are no ties in college football. My gut says USC, but I think that’s just from years and years of dominance conditioning me to feel that way. The Ducks have looked more well-rounded, and they’ve got home field advantage. They’ve earned the respect.

Prediction: Oregon 26 – USC 24

USC Trojans 6-1 Overall (3-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: USC 42 – Oregon State 36

Next Week’s Opponent: @Oregon

Saturday’s game against Oregon State was a very odd, albeit very fun one. I don’t know if it was just me, but it kind of had that 2005 Fresno State game vibe to it; you never really felt like USC was going to lose, but you never really felt comfortable, either.

This is in no way meant to disrespect Oregon State either, it is just the “feel” that I got from this game. The Beavers are a very real threat in this conference, and they proved it this week.

But getting back to USC, I’m still not quite sure what to make of how the defense has played of late. On the one hand, the Trojans haven’t trailed since those fateful three seconds back in the Washington game in September, so the defense has done its job in allowing the offense to take the lead and holding on to it. On the other hand, surrendering 849 yards and 63 points over the last two games is hard not to be concerned about, especially with an offense like Oregon’s on tap.

Despite two interceptions, Matt Barkley had a pretty nice day, going 15/25 for 202 yards and two touchdowns. It was also good to see Ronald Johnson getting his feet back under him with six catches for 99 yards.

But the real story on offense was the running game, which was extremely effective against an Oregon State team that had been very stingy against the run to this point. Joe McKnight had a solid 65 yards on 11 carries, but it was Allen Bradford who had the huge day, ripping off 147 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. With both the running game and Matt Barkley’s passing game clicking, it’s pretty clear to see why this team has been putting up points in bunches.

The Trojans clearly have the talent and the confidence to shootout with anyone; but against an Oregon team that has been lights out on defense, the Trojans defense will have to be at the top of its game if the team plans on defending its Pac-10 title once again.

USC Trojans 5-1 Overall (2-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: USC 34 – Notre Dame 27

Next Week’s Opponent: Oregon State

Although I am sure most ‘SC fans could have done without the dramatic comeback and tense goal line drama that Notre Dame forced, make no mistake about it, this was a great win for the Trojans. The Irish gave USC their absolute best shot (particularly Golden Tate who really is a spectacular talent), and Pete Carroll’s squad still found a way to prevail.

Coming into this game, I still had questions about whether QB Matt Barkley could make plays while being pressured heavily. I got my answer on Saturday. Sure, the Trojan o-line protected well for most of the game, but there were times where the Notre Dame rush came hard and the true freshman was still able to quickly and successfully diagnose where to go with the ball.

Barkley was absolutely brilliant on a number of key hookups with TE Anthony McCoy and WR Damian Williams, as he continues to show the poise and cool demeanor of a seasoned veteran. No doubt Barkley’s fourth quarter INT was the major catalyst for the Irish comeback, but I am willing to excuse that mistake because of the tremendous body of work that he put together in South Bend (19/29 380 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT). Barkley has now won at the ‘Shoe in Columbus, Strawberry Canyon in Berkeley, and now on the hallowed grounds of Notre Dame Stadium; not bad for a kid that was playing against Servite High School at this time last year.

Notre Dame had a clear gameplan on defense that focused on stopping the run, and the Irish consistently loaded the box to take away the explosiveness of Joe McKnight. As a result, USC only managed to run for 121 yards and McKnight was limited to a pedestrian 79 yards. Despite the lack of space for the tailbacks, I still liked what I saw from Allen Bradford (8 car. 45 yards 1 TD), as he continues to be a great change of pace for McKnight.

Defensively, I thought the Trojans manhandled Notre Dame at times, but the penalties were inexcusable. The Trojan D had plenty of chances to get off the field in the fourth but mental lapses led to personal fouls. I also believe credit needs to go to QB Jimmy Clausen and the resilient Irish offense for that exciting comeback. Some of those fourth quarter completions were just spectacular catches by Tate and Robby Parris.

In the end, USC should feel very good about a hard-fought win over a worthy adversary. Now comes a highly anticipated rematch with the always-dangerous Oregon State Beavers. Survive the Beavers, and the showdown with Oregon could be for another Pac-10 title.

USC Trojans (4-1) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1)
Saturday, October 17, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: USC -10.0
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (28 – 13):

Will this be the first competitive game between the Irish and Trojans since the “Bush Push” epic in 2005? Charlie Weis certainly hopes so. Notre Dame is in desperate need of a marquee win, and a victory over USC could be the catalyst that propels the Irish all the way to the BCS. But the Trojans have already proven that they can overcome a hostile environment to win a big game (see: final drive at the Horseshoe), and there is no reason to believe that Pete Carroll’s club can’t make it eight in a row in the rivalry.

One of the key matchups on Saturday will be the explosive Notre Dame passing attack against the air tight ‘SC secondary. The winner of this battle may very well win the game. QB Jimmy Clausen will be the best pure passer that the Trojans see all season and he has been magnificent so far in ’09, as the Irish have the #1 pass efficiency offense in the country. USC will counter with a defensive backfield that has YET TO YIELD A PASSING TOUCHDOWN THIS SEASON and ranks #8 nationally in pass efficiency defense. Should be fun.

Pete Carroll’s club is finally getting healthy. The return of WR Ronald Johnson is especially huge for Matt Barkley, as RoJo can stretch the field in ways that Damian Williams cannot. Barkley should have time to throw behind a dominant offensive line, and so it wouldn’t surprise me to see ‘SC take quite a few shots down the field. I also believe there will be room for RB Joe McKnight to work his magic, as the Irish D have missed a ton of tackles in space this season (not to mention McKnight has averaged 12.5 YPC against ND over the last two years).

Ultimately, I expect Clausen and the Irish offense to have more success passing than any team ‘SC has faced this year, but Notre Dame’s inability to consistently run the ball will be costly in the end. By contrast, Barkley, McKnight and the rest of the ‘SC offense have shown great balance in the last few weeks, and I see that as being the difference in the game.

Prediction: USC 34 – Notre Dame 24

USC Player to Keep an Eye On: DE/DT Armond Armstead- Armstead will be making his season debut for the Trojans after recovering from a foot injury. He is a load as an edge rusher or in the middle, and he should make an already daunting d-line even stronger.

Notre Dame Player to Keep an Eye On: LB Manti Te’o - The folks in South Bend cannot stop raving about Te’o, and he may be a key to stopping the rhythm of the Trojans offense.

Dave’s Take (31 – 10):

After dominating Nevada in their home opener, Notre Dame has played in four straight thrillers; a four-point loss to Michigan, two three-point wins over Purdue and Michigan State, and an overtime win over Washington in their last game.

Will Saturday’s game provide this much excitement? This Notre Dame team is much better than the ones the Trojans have manhandled over the last few seasons, but will it make a difference?

I’m just not sure that it will. While I don’t think USC will completely dominate like they have the last two seasons, this defense has picked up right where it left off last season and is an absolute force. Opponents are averaging just 8.6 points per game against the Trojans, and that’s including some good offensive teams in Ohio State, Washington, and California.

USC hasn’t faced a pass attack this strong, but without a running game to compliment it, Pete Carroll and his staff should be able to dial up the right play calls to slow it down. This will easily be the toughest defense Notre Dame has faced to date, and will show us what star QB Jimmy Clausen is really made of.

The only way I see USC having trouble in this game is if Matt Barkley finally shows some signs of being human. I have to remind myself every now and then that the kid is a true freshman. He doesn’t look or act like one on or off the field, but a bad game can’t always be considered an impossibility. That said, with Ronald Johnson’s return, his job just got even easier; and until he looks like a freshman, no reason to assume he’ll start.

In the end, I just think USC’s defense will continue to be its dominant self, and the offense will do enough to make it comfortable.

Prediction: USC 27 – Notre Dame 13

USC Trojans (3-1) vs. Cal Bears (3-1)
Saturday, October 3, 5:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: USC -5.0
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (22 – 10):

A few weeks ago, I was certain that Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler and the rest of College Gameday would be in Berkeley this Saturday for an epic west coast showdown with national championship implications. Oh well.

While the Trojans and Bears will not enter this game undefeated, the stakes are still very high. Both programs entered the 2009 season with high expectations, and Saturday’s loser will likely see those expectations go unfulfilled.

Perhaps no team in the country has faced more adversity in 2009 than USC. The Trojans have been dealing with unfortunate circumstances since fall camp, and Stafon Johnson’s terrible weightlifting accident has been especially difficult on the team.

On the field, Pete Carroll’s club continues to be a work in progress, at least on offense. ‘SC played an extremely sloppy three quarters against Wazzu, and the Trojans must raise the intensity level considerably this Saturday.  For ‘SC to win, more may be asked of Matt Barkley in the passing game, because the Bears D is typically strong against the run (with the exception of last week’s debacle in Eugene). I still expect a few big plays from Joe McKnight and the rest of the backs, but I believe Barkley’s performance will be the biggest key to victory for USC.

For the Bears, QB Kevin Riley must establish a rhythm early. His accuracy issues are worrying, so he needs to gain some confidence on the first few drives. Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen were rendered useless last week largely because of a poor performance from the o-line. The line must be more physical this week, or else Cal’s two-headed monster at tailback will continue to struggle.

USC never losses the big game, but I believe Cal is due to finally win one. The Bears certainly have their issues, but they also have the talent to beat SC. I expect Jeff Tedford’s team to play inspired football in front of an energized home crowd at Memorial Stadium, where Cal has not lost since 2007 (of course the last loss was to the Trojans). While you can never count out a Pete Carroll-led team in a game like this, I see the Bears pulling out a nail-bitter.

Prediction: Cal 27 – USC 24

USC Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Allen Bradford - With Johnson out, Bradford may be the new red zone back. He looked very good against WSU last week, and could provide the thunder to McKnight’s lightning.

Cal Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Anthony Miller - Riley needs to be able to complete easy passes and Miller is a big target with solid hands.

Dave’s Take (25 – 7):

Before the season started, many were projecting this game out to be the game of the year in the Pac-10. Cal was almost unanimously rated as the top contender to end USC’s dominance over the conference, and this was going to be USC’s first major test in the conference after bullying over the Washington schools.

Hmm, a lot can change in a month, can’t it? For Cal, all systems appeared to be go heading into the Oregon game. For USC, coming off of a big win over Ohio State, people were writing off the offensive troubles they had as an indication of how well the Buckeyes played, not an indication of offensive struggles.

And yet here we are. Both teams have major concerns, and more importantly, both teams already have a conference loss. So for me, I honestly can’t drive myself crazy trying to figure out who is more dejected or motivated or anything like that. I think it is safe to call it a wash as far as motivation and struggles are concerned, and focus strictly on the game itself.

And it is a game that I believe the Trojans will win. Cal will not come close to repeating the poor effort they had in Oregon, but that game did leave me doubting that they can dig deep and come up big in a big game. We’ve seen USC do it for years (it’s the LITTLE games they have problems with), and we’ve already seen them do it this season against Ohio State.

Pete Carroll and USC own this series, and I believe the defense will guide them to a win here; assuming, of course, that Joe McKnight can hold on to the football.

Prediction: USC 27 – Cal 17