UCLA, USC Are Wary Favorited Tonight : Trojans Take On Remodeled Baylor

USC is apparently in a comfortable position--a well-rested team with a high national ranking opening at home against a projected conference also-ran coming off a tough game on the road.

That is one of the main reasons that USC is an 11-point favorite to beat Baylor tonight at the Coliseum.

The Trojans opened the season two weeks ago with an impressive 20-10 win over Illinois at Champaign, Ill. Illinois was talking national championship before that game.

USC was idle last week, a welcome respite for some of the injured players. Idleness also produced a bonus for the Trojans--a No. 3 ranking in both the Associated Press and United Press International polls.

USC had no reason to be overconfident against Illinois, but that’s a condition that could exist tonight.

Coach Ted Tollner acknowledged as much when he said: “You want to play well and get recognition. The next step is how we handle it. You’re only one loss away from being forgotten.”

Tollner is aware that Baylor is the sort of a team that can jump up and bite an opponent unexpectedly.

The Bears, from Waco, Tex., were picked to finish sixth in the Southwest Conference in preseason polls. But there’s an old joke in Texas football that goes something like this: Pick Baylor sixth, and it winds up in the Cotton Bowl.

That was the case in 1974 and 1980, and the cycle is favorable to Baylor again. This is a Southern Baptist school that traditionally doesn’t have a lot of depth but has enough skilled people to beat almost anyone, especially if an opponent is looking ahead.

Baylor, which opened the season by beating Wyoming, 39-18, could easily be 2-0. The Bears lost to Georgia, 17-14, last Saturday at Athens, Ga., after having the better of the statistics but turning the ball over twice inside the Bulldogs’ 20-yard line.

Baylor Coach Grant Teaff has remodeled his offense from an I-formation to a split back, option-type system, with emphasis on passing.

Teaff apparently has some skilled players, among them alternating quarterbacks Tom Muecke and Cody Carlson, a proven wide receiver in Matt Clark, all-conference defensive end Derek Turner and free safety Thomas Everett, who returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown against Wyoming.

Baylor uses as many as seven running backs a game, including sophomore Jackie Ball, who ran 70 yards for a touchdown against Wyoming.

Tollner said that the Bears haven’t gone wide much with the option this season, but that aspect is there.

Tollner added, though, that if the option is overly respected, other problems are created in pass coverage. USC doesn’t encounter many strictly option teams.

Baylor has another ingredient--team speed--that promotes big plays. Cornerback Johnny Thomas and split end Darnell Chase, both reserves, were members of the school’s winning 1,600-meter relay team at the NCAA track meet. Another reserve, strong safety Reyna Thompson, joined Thomas and Chase on the 400-meter relay team that finished third in the same meet.

But Baylor is somewhat soft, both on offense and defense, where the Trojans make their living, rushing. The Bears have yielded 504 yards rushing in two games, while gaining only 208.

Carlson, more of a pocket-type passer, and Muecke, who is a bit quicker, have been productive. Carlson has completed 50% of his passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, and Muecke has completed 56.7% for 258 yards and two touchdowns.

Baylor has traditionally had some blue-chip athletes, but there just haven’t been enough of them. Still, the Bears seem to delight in their spoiler role. They’ve beaten traditional Southwest Conference rival Texas five times since 1974, winning last year, 24-20.

Even though Teaff has 16 starters returning, the Bears have been generally disregarded as a contender for the conference championship.

They seem to thrive on such a status, though, which is no comfort to Tollner.

Trojan Notes Tonight’s game is expected to attract a crowd of 65,000. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. . . . Because the NFL game between the Raiders and San Francisco 49ers will be televised live at 1 p.m. Sunday, the TV replay of the USC-Baylor game will be at 10 a.m., instead of 1 p.m. as previously scheduled, on Channel 2. . . . USC hasn’t lost a home opener since 1976, when the Trojans were upset by Missouri, 46-25. . . . USC’s offensive line averages 6 feet 5 1/2 inches and 272 pounds, which is bigger than the starting line for either the Raiders or the Rams. . . . Baylor Coach Grant Teaff: “USC will be the biggest team we’ve played since I’ve been at Baylor. They may also be one of the best teams we’ve played.” Teaff is in his 14th season at the school. . . . Injury report: USC inside linebacker Rex Moore is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, and outside linebacker Greg Coauette is questionable with a sprained ankle. Offensive tackle Gaylord Kuamoo has recovered from a strained Achilles’ tendon and is available. . . . Fred Crutcher will start at tailback, but Ted Tollner isn’t sure how long the senior will be able to play. He is bothered by calcium deposits in his left shoulder.