USC vs. Oregon

Time: 3:30 p.m.

Site: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Ore.

Records: USC 5-2, 3-1; Oregon 5-1, 2-1.

TV: Channel 9.

Radio: XTRA (690).

The Offenses

It’s all about Oregon, with its 48.5-point scoring average and 522.8-yard average in offense. Whether the Ducks will have their usual balanced attack after the season-ending injury to tailback Reuben Droughns against UCLA is the biggest question. Derien Latimer, Jason Cooper and Jerry Brown will try to replace him, but the real responsibility rests on scrambling quarterback Akili Smith, who ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency. USC, behind quarterbacks Mike Van Raaphorst and Carson Palmer, will need to use every weapon it has to keep up.

The Defenses

Keep an eye on the first quarter. Though USC has been a strong fourth-quarter defensive team--outscoring opponents, 73-27--Oregon likes to put the hurt on in the first quarter, outscoring teams, 87-23. USC must buckle down from the outset for a change and not give Smith either too much time to throw or too much freedom to scramble. The good news for USC--Texas El Paso, Stanford and Washington State scored 26, 28 and 29 points, respectively, against Oregon.

Key to the game: It’s simple enough: USC has to contain Smith. The Trojans don’t have to completely stop him or knock him out of the game, but they do need to take advantage of Droughns’ absence and hold Oregon to fewer than 30 or 35 points to have much of a chance.

Fast fact: Only twice in history--in 1957 and 1958--has an unranked USC team faced an Oregon team in the top 20, and the Ducks won both games. The only other time Oregon was ranked going into the USC game, the No. 3 Trojans beat the No. 18 Ducks in 1988.

Line: Oregon by 7.