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