THE RIVALRY: SCOUTING REPORT / UCLA (4-6, 2-5) vs. USC (4-6, 2-5)

* Time: 12:30 p.m.

* Site: Coliseum.

* TV: Channel 7.

* Radio: XTRA (690), KXTA (1150).

* The offenses: USC flanker R. Jay Soward has had big games in the past against UCLA, but also injury concerns when the Bruin secondary was most susceptible. In 1998, he had a reduced role because of a sprained ankle. In 1999, he has a bad hamstring and might not be at full strength just when Bruin defensive backs will undergo another change, with strong safety Lovell Houston being forced out by a concussion. Tailback Chad Morton, averaging 91 yards, needs 86 to become only the third 1,000-yard rusher for USC in the ‘90s. After warming up with 117 last week at Washington State, today he gets the worst defense against the run in the Pacific 10. UCLA’s Danny Farmer, meanwhile, could move into third place on the conference list for career yards, at least temporarily. Farmer is 123 yards behind Dennis Northcutt of Arizona, which is idle today but plays Arizona State next week. A career-best 200 yards puts Farmer, who had 196 this season against Oregon, alone in second place and guarantees finishing no worse than third, no matter what Northcutt does in Tempe. But the Bruins will have to throw plenty of flanker screens to get Farmer the school record for receptions--he trails Kevin Jordan by 22 catches. Drew Bennett is the most experienced UCLA quarterback available, but he did not even practice at the position this week. The plan is to use only Ryan McCann and backup Scott McEwan.

* The defenses: It’s a big day for the Bruins on two counts: They need a good showing, on the heels of the encouraging performance last week against Washington, to at least obscure the midseason struggles and offer solid evidence that 1999 is different from 1998, and they will probably need a good showing to keep their team in the game. UCLA, with a new quarterback and an offense that’s beat up in general, can’t afford a pointfest. “It better not be,” Coach Bob Toledo said, “because we can’t score many.” USC will try to put as much pressure on McCann as possible, wanting to both rattle a first-time starter, in the biggest game of the season at that, and not give him time to look downfield since the Trojans will be without their best cornerback. True freshman Darrell Rideaux, himself in the opening lineup for the first time, takes the place of Antuan Simmons, sidelined after undergoing back surgery. USC linebacker Zeke Moreno has a chance to lead the Pac-10 in tackles. At 9.6 per game, he is in third place behind Steve Gleason of Washington State (9.8) and Adam Archuleta of Arizona State (10.4).

* Key to the game: The UCLA defense. Bruin chances improve greatly with a low-scoring game. They can’t expect to rattle Trojan quarterback John Fox, so neutralizing the Trojan speed will be critical.

* Fast fact: Toledo is undefeated in the series: 3-0 as the Bruin coach, 2-0 as a Bruin assistant immediately before that and 3-0 as a Trojan assistant in the 1970s.

* Line: USC by 6 1/2.

HOW THEY COMPARE

UCLA USC

22.3 Scoring 28.6

29.4 Points allowed 25.2

220.2 Passing offense 273.9

114.6 Rushing offense 121.7

334.8 Total offense 395.6

258.8 Passing defense 246

187.3 Rushing defense 132.7

446.1 Total defense 378.7