Guess Where USC Is Going Bowling

Arizona’s 34-20 victory over Arizona State on Friday means USC probably will finish its 1993 season in its House of Horrors--Anaheim Stadium.

A USC invitation to the Dec. 28 Freedom Bowl appeared all but certain Friday, according to Freedom Bowl director Don Andersen, who said the Trojans’ most likely opponent will be either Brigham Young or Utah, depending on remaining games.

A USC-Fresno State rematch of last season’s Freedom Bowl is a longshot, Andersen said.

USC lost to Fresno State, 24-7, at last year’s Freedom Bowl. The Trojans began this season with a 31-9 loss to North Carolina at Anaheim Stadium.

Andersen, who attended the Arizona-Arizona State game, said USC is a lock for the Freedom Bowl if Arizona accepts an expected invitation to play in the Fiesta Bowl.

“I expect the Fiesta people to invite Arizona, and it could be announced in a couple of days,” Andersen said.

USC (7-5) finished its regular season with a 27-21 loss to UCLA, with a Rose Bowl invitation on the line. Friday, Coach John Robinson said he and his team would be happy with a Freedom Bowl date.

“I feel great about it,” he said. “And who cares who we play? We’ll have as much fun getting ready for that game as for any other game. Our football team is in a state of mind where we all want to come together, one more time.”

Andersen said said tonight’s game between California and Hawaii and next weekend’s game between Hawaii and Tulane could complicate the Freedom’s second invitation.

“If Hawaii wins its last two, they’d have seven wins and the Aloha Bowl would probably take them,” he said. “That could have a trickle-down effect on who we pick to play SC.”