USC VS. UCLA

Time: 12:30 p.m.

* Site: Rose Bowl

* Records: USC 7-3, 5-2; UCLA 9-0, 7-0.

* Television: Channel 7

* Radio: AM 690, AM 1150

* The offenses: It’s UCLA senior quarterback Cade McNown against USC freshman Carson Palmer, making his third start. But a freshman won this game three years ago: McNown, in a 24-20 upset. The offenses are a clash of opposites. UCLA averages almost 41 points a game. The inconsistent Trojans average 30, but have scored 40 or more only twice--though they’ve held opponents to an average of 17.9. Both teams thrive on quick-strike touchdowns, but USC’s best big-play man, receiver R. Jay Soward, is hampered by a sprained ankle.

* The defenses: The contrast is in USC’s favor on this side of the ball. Led by linebacker Chris Claiborne, the Trojan defense has held seven of 10 opponents to 20 points or fewer, and nobody has scored more than 32 against USC. The Trojans rank fifth nationally in pass-efficiency defense. The ugly number for UCLA? The Bruins are 91st among 112 teams in total defense and have given up more than 30 points in a third of their games.

* The keys to the game: The biggest is McNown. Can USC slow him down enough that the Trojan offense can keep up? And if it’s close, will McNown pull out yet another game-winning play? A more subtle key: Both teams thrive on turnovers and are among the top 10 in turnover margin. Whatever fumbles or interceptions there are could prove huge.

* Fast fact: All but one of UCLA’s victories in the seven-game streak have been by a touchdown or less.

* The line: UCLA by 6 1/2.

NOTES / Soward Hobbles in Session

Receiver R. Jay Soward was still hobbled as he tried to run pass routes Friday during the Trojans’ walk-through, leaving in doubt whether he’ll be able to do much to help USC against UCLA today at the Rose Bowl.

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” said Soward, who sprained his right ankle two weeks ago against Stanford. Larry Parker will start for Soward, and the Trojans will decide shortly before game time how much he can play.

“He’ll warm up and we’ll see what happens,” Coach Paul Hackett said. “He looked better [Thursday] than [Friday]. We’ll wait and see. Hopefully he’ll be able to do some things. It’s hard to predict.”

Soward ran routes on the side, catching passes from former starting quarterbacks Mike Van Raaphorst and John Fox. He had some acceleration on straightaways--though far from his usual speed--but couldn’t cut because of pain.

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There seems to be more at stake the next two weeks for USC than the UCLA and Notre Dame games: Linebacker Chris Claiborne suggests the outcomes will affect his decision to return for his senior season.

“I want to see how we play in big games,” he said. “Florida State was a big game and we didn’t play good enough. I want to win games. For me to stay and sacrifice myself like I do, I want a chance to win the national championship.”

*

Has UCLA’s success against USC the last seven years affected the recruiting wars?

“People have brought that up to me and have said it has been a concern,” Hackett acknowledged, though he added that many recruits have been at the games as guests of either school, and have seen how close they were.

Claiborne believes it’s an issue.

“Definitely, this is a battle for recruits and for the city,” he said. “You know, we pretty much gave them basketball. We’ve got to have something to take back.”

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The Bruins are anticipating a capacity crowd of about 90,000. That would increase their season average to about 74,100, bettering the school mark of 69,812 from 1947 and also putting them ahead of Washington (71,536) for the 1998 Pac-10 race. . . . UCLA Coach Bob Toledo is one of six finalists for another coach-of-the-year award, this one presented by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Assn. and named after Paul “Bear” Bryant.

HOW THEY COMPARE

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USC UCLA 30.0 Scoring 40.7 17.9 Points Allowed 26.2 210.1 Passing 286.8 141.0 Rushing 187.2 351.1 Total Offense 474.0 200.8 Passing Defense 262.9 135.9 Rushing Defense 146.1 336.7 Total Defense 409.0

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THROUGH THE YEARS

1990: USC 45-42

1991: UCLA 24-21

1992: UCLA 38-37

1993: UCLA 27-21

1994: UCLA 31-19

1995: UCLA 24-20

1996: UCLA 48-41 (2 OT)

1997: UCLA 31-24