GAME OF THE WEEK

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 4, 1996 12 AM PT

PENN STATE (5-0) at OHIO STATE (3-0)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., pay-per-view.

* STORYLINE: A clash of Big Ten giants in a game with Rose Bowl and national championship implications. It also has tremendous recruiting implications since they heatedly compete for high school prospects. Other than that, a dud. Those who weren’t sure how good the new-look Buckeyes were after walk-overs against Rice and Pittsburgh found out last week when Ohio State traveled to South Bend, Ind., and soundly defeated Notre Dame, 29-16. It was an important win for John Cooper, long saddled with the “can’t win the big one” label. Penn State appears its usual, solid, plain-wrapped self, though the Nittany Lions were lucky to escape with a 23-20 victory last week at Wisconsin after building a 17-3 lead.

* PENN STATE UPDATE: The program recorded its 700th victory last week and keeps trucking along. Offense was supposed to be a problem with only three returning starters, but the Nittany Lions are averaging 32.2 points a game. The defense has given up 27 points in five games and ranks sixth nationally in scoring defense.

* OHIO STATE UPDATE: The Buckeyes overwhelmed the Irish on the line of scrimmage and with speed at the skill positions. The offense is built around All-American left tackle Orlando Pace, a human silo. Ohio State leads the nation in scoring offense at 57 points a game. Quarterback Stanley Jackson is talented, though prone to mistakes. Tailback Pepe Pearson has gained 395 yards and scored eight touchdowns.

* EDGE TO OHIO STATE: The coaching edge goes to Joe Paterno over John Cooper, but the Buckeyes appear to have a rare blend of brawn and speed.

* THE LINE: Ohio State by 10.

OTHER GAMES

CALIFORNIA (4-0) at USC (3-1)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7.

* STORYLINE: The Trojans’ quest for greatness has been derailed almost weekly by off-field problems, the latest being four starters suspended for trading their school-issued shoes for clothing at a Nike store. Cal has already surpassed last year’s victory total under first-year Coach Steve Mariucci.

* CAL UPDATE: The Bears are off to their best start since 1993, although they are coming off a ragged, if not thrilling, triple-overtime 48-42 victory over Oregon State. Mariucci, who tutored Brett Favre at Green Bay, had done wonders with quarterback Pat Barnes until last week, when Barnes had two fumbles and threw four interceptions.

* USC UPDATE: The Trojans begin a string of seven Pac-10 games with considerable uncertainty, in light of the latest revelations. Because of suspensions, USC has yet to field its best unit.

* EDGE TO USC: The Trojans have not lost a home game to Cal since 1970, but if ever the Bears were going to steal a game, this would be it. The Bears boast the Pac-10’s top offense, but USC should still have enough eligible athletes to hold off the threat.

* THE LINE: USC by 16.

UCLA (1-2) at OREGON (3-2)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 7:15 p.m., Prime Sports.

* STORYLINE: A season that began with promise for UCLA is nearing crisis after last week’s lopsided loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor.

* UCLA UPDATE: Tailback Skip Hicks is averaging 5.2 yards a carry, but, according to Coach Bob Toledo, lacks the heart and drive of his predecessor, Karim Abdul-Jabbar, now with the Miami Dolphins. You know it’s bad when the coach is trying to motivate a player through the press.

* OREGON UPDATE: The Ducks have the Pac-10’s leading offense. The defense, though, ranks last.

* EDGE TO OREGON: Unless there’s a downpour, points won’t be a problem in this one.

* THE LINE: UCLA by 1 1/2.

MICHIGAN (4-0) at NORTHWESTERN (3-1)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 9 a.m., ESPN or ESPN2.

* STORYLINE: Both schools continue their ongoing battle for respect.

* MICHIGAN UPDATE: After sneaking past Colorado and surviving a sloppy game against Boston College, the Wolverines were dominant last week against UCLA, piling up 559 yards while giving up only 170.

* NORTHWESTERN UPDATE: After a shaky 2-1 start, which included a season-opening loss to Wake Forest, the Wildcats responded with an impressive come-from-behind 35-17 victory over Indiana last week to open Big Ten play.

* EDGE TO NORTHWESTERN: A loss here and the doubters will begin to dismiss the Wildcats as one-year wonders. This is the kind of game up-and-coming programs have to win at home to sustain national respect.

* THE LINE: Michigan by 6 1/2.

NEBRASKA (2-1) at KANSAS STATE (4-0)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., pay-per-view.

* STORYLINE: The Wildcats won’t get many chances like this to pull off an upset, which is saying something. Tom Osborne is 23-0 against Kansas State and 7-0 against Bill Snyder. Kansas State fans think their team is getting snubbed in the polls, but the Wildcats haven’t defeated a Division I team with a winning record.

* NEBRASKA UPDATE: The Cornhuskers have now won, uh, one game in a row, rebounding from the Arizona State debacle with a 65-9 rout of Colorado State last week.

* KANSAS STATE UPDATE: After leading the nation in total defense last year, the Wildcats lost coordinator Bob Stoops to Florida but remain solid, having given up only 24 points in four games.

* EDGE TO NEBRASKA: Boy, it’s hard to buck history here. Osborne, as an assistant and head coach, has been on the sidelines for 27 consecutive victories over Kansas State.

* THE LINE: Nebraska by 13.

THE LINE ON THE REST

California plus 16 at USC

UCLA minus 1 1/2 at Oregon

Stanford plus 12 at Washington

Washington St. plus 8 at Arizona

Clemson plus 30 at Florida St.

Florida minus 30 at Arkansas

Penn St. plus 10 at Ohio St.

Boston College plus 14 at West Virginia

Rutgers plus 27 at Syracuse

North Carolina St. plus 8 1/2 at Maryland