THE LOCALS

STANFORD (4-4, 2-3)

at USC (4-4, 2-3)

* Kickoff: 12:30 p.m., Channel 7.

* Storyline: USC and Stanford both started the season in the top 25, but now only the winner of this game has much of a shot to salvage a winning season and appear in a bowl game.

* USC update: Coach John Robinson will go with redshirt freshman Mike Van Raaphorst again at quarterback, and converted defensive back Chad Morton will get carries at tailback behind Delon Washington. The Trojans, shut out for the first time in seven years last week against Washington, haven’t scored a touchdown since the second quarter of the Oregon game Oct. 25.

* Stanford update: After a 4-1 start, Stanford has lost its last three--to Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA. An unproductive running game and 14 turnovers during the three-game slide have been part of the problem. Quarterback Chad Hutchinson and receiver Troy Walters lead the offense, but defensive end Kailee Wong is Stanford’s best player.

* Edge to Stanford: Comparing scores is an imperfect science, but Stanford had a much easier time with Notre Dame (33-15) and Oregon (58-49) than USC, which beat Notre Dame (20-17) and Oregon (24-22) and needed the help of missed field goals in both games.

* The line: USC by 3 1/2.