HOW THEY MATCH UP

USC RUN OFFENSE VS. OKLAHOMA RUN DEFENSE

* Leading rusher LenDale White worked through an ankle injury he suffered in the regular-season finale against UCLA, but Reggie Bush will start. White, though, could be the key to the game if he can run effectively and set up play-action passes. Bush averages more than six yards a carry and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball for an offense that averages 176 yards rushing a game. If White is hindered, Desmond Reed and David Kirtman will back up Bush. Senior John Drake returns to the lineup at left guard for a USC line that has been overshadowed by Oklahoma’s. The Sooner defense ranks fifth nationally against the run, yielding 86.4 yards a game. Linebackers Lance Mitchell and Rufus Alexander and safety Brodney Pool are the top tacklers for a unit that gives up 280.2 yards a game. Edge: Oklahoma.

USC PASS OFFENSE VS. OKLAHOMA PASS DEFENSE

* Quarterback Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy and is 24-1 as a starter. Leinart has passed for 2,990 yards and 28 touchdowns with six interceptions and is completing 67% of his throws. Freshman split end Dwayne Jarrett has a team-best 50 receptions, 12 for touchdowns. Bush, sophomore flanker Steve Smith and tight ends Dominique Byrd and Alex Holmes are Leinart’s other primary targets. Oklahoma shored up its secondary when freshman Marcus Walker was inserted into the lineup and cornerback Antonio Perkins returned from an injury; the Sooners give up 194 yards passing a game. Edge: USC.

USC RUN DEFENSE VS. OKLAHOMA RUN OFFENSE

* USC gives up only 75 yards rushing a game, second nationally. Oklahoma freshman Adrian Peterson averages 154 yards a game and led the nation with 314 carries. Peterson’s 1,843 yards rushing rank second nationally behind California’s J.J. Arrington, who gained 112 yards against USC. Peterson runs behind an offensive line led by Outland Trophy-winning tackle Jammal Brown and All-American center Vince Carter. Linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Matt Grootegoed are USC’s top tacklers. Edge: Oklahoma.

USC PASS DEFENSE VS. OKLAHOMA PASS OFFENSE

* USC’s bend-but-don’t-break secondary gives up 196 yards a game but has surrendered only one long touchdown pass. Oklahoma, however, is not reluctant to throw deep and features an experienced, physical receiving corps led by senior Mark Clayton (62 receptions, eight touchdowns), junior Travis Wilson (43 and nine), and seniors Brandon Jones (25 and three) and Mark Bradley (21 and seven). Quarterback Jason White has passed for 2,961 yards and 33 touchdowns with only six interceptions. The Trojans must find a way to penetrate Oklahoma’s line and pressure White to throw on the run. Edge: Oklahoma.

SPECIAL TEAMS

* USC kicker Ryan Killeen struggled for much of the season but kicked three field goals in a six-point victory over California on Oct. 9 and made his last seven field-goal attempts, including five against UCLA. Killeen has made 14 of 23 field-goal attempts and all 57 of his extra-point attempts. Tom Malone averages 43.8 yards a punt. Bush averages 16 yards a punt return and has returned two for touchdowns. He averages 26 yards on kickoff returns. Oklahoma freshman Garrett Hartley has not attempted a field goal since replacing Trey DiCarlo. Punter Blake Ferguson is averaging 41.8 yards for 48 punts. Perkins has returned one punt for a touchdown. Edge: USC.

COACHING

* USC Coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Norm Chow prepare the Trojans extraordinarily well when they have a lot of lead time for big games. Examples: The 2003 Orange Bowl against Iowa, the 2003 season opener at Auburn, the 2004 Rose Bowl against Michigan, and the 2004 season opener at a neutral site against Virginia Tech. There’s a reason why Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops is reportedly college football’s highest-paid coach. He and his staff have guided the Sooners to their third BCS title-game appearance in five seasons. Edge: Carroll.

INTANGIBLES

* USC trailed in six of its 12 games and came back to win. That poise, coupled with the coaching staff’s knack for making critical adjustments, could work to the Trojans’ advantage if they fall behind against the Sooners. USC came back at a neutral site against Virginia Tech and on the road against Stanford. The Trojans also staged a dramatic defensive stand to hold off Cal at the Coliseum. Oklahoma survived a scare at Oklahoma State and trailed by 14 points three times before coming back to beat Texas A&M.; The Sooners know what it feels like to win and lose a national championship game. They have been motivated all season to put last year’s loss to Louisiana State behind them. Edge: USC.

* Gary Klein’s pick: USC, 27-21.