THE LOCALS

No. 18 USC (3-0)

at No. 10 FLORIDA ST. (2-1)

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

* Story line: Despite uncertainty about the path of Hurricane Georges and the weather it will bring to northern Florida, USC is in Tallahassee--about 25 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico--preparing to play. Florida State officials say the game will go on unless the situation is deemed unsafe for the teams or fans. The Trojans could break onto the national scene with an upset. But Florida State has a 35-game home unbeaten streak--and the Seminoles aren’t likely to be caught snoozing only two weeks after being upset by North Carolina State.

* USC update: An offense with quick-strike capabilities with receiver R. Jay Soward and tailback Chad Morton nevertheless has struggled to put together sustained drives. Protecting quarterbacks Mike Van Raaphorst and Carson Palmer might be tough against Florida State’s pass rush. The burden will be on the defense, which held Florida State to two touchdowns last season in a 14-7 loss at the Coliseum.

* Florida State update: The Seminoles roared back from the 24-7 loss to N.C. State by crushing Duke, 62-13. The defense has held opponents to 225 yards a game, only 77 on the ground. Tailback Travis Minor and receiver Peter Warrick are big offensive weapons. But quarterback Chris Weinke is still green. He had six passes intercepted against N.C. State.

* Edge to Florida State: The advantage at Doak Campbell Stadium is overwhelming. The weather, though, is a wild card.

* Line: Off.