THE LOCALS

USC (4-3, 2-2) at No. 7 WASHINGTON (6-1, 4-0)

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

* STORYLINE: USC has virtually no shot at the Rose Bowl this season, but Washington can make it for the first time since 1993 by winning its final four games against the Trojans, Oregon, UCLA and Washington State.

* USC UPDATE: Redshirt freshman Mike Van Raaphorst will start in place of sophomore John Fox at quarterback, but both are expected to play. USC has won four of its last five games but beat Notre Dame and Oregon with the help of missed field goals.

* WASHINGTON UPDATE: Their only loss is to No. 1 Nebraska, 27-14 on Sept. 20. Rashaan Shehee leads the Pacific 10 in rushing with 121 yards a game, which ranks ninth in the nation. Quarterback Brock Huard ranks second nationally to UCLA’s Cade McNown in passing efficiency, and receiver Jerome Pathon is sixth in the nation in receiving yards with 115 a game.

* EDGE TO WASHINGTON: Fifteen of the last 21 meetings between these teams have been decided by 12 points or fewer, but this one shouldn’t be close.

* THE LINE: Washington by 17 1/2.