HOW THEY MATCH UP

When USC has the ball--Coach Pete Carroll challenged his linemen last week and they responded. “Same deal’s on the table again,” center Norm Katnik said. “The offensive line’s job is to keep the offense going.” Tailback Sultan McCullough was a little sore in practice this week, which could mean a few carries for backups Darryl Poston, Chris Howard and even Sunny Byrd. The star of the Arizona State defense is Terrell Suggs, who has 10 tackles for loss and leads the conference with six sacks.

When Arizona State has the ball--The Sun Devils have a big-time tailback in Delvon Flowers, but he has been hampered by groin and hamstring injuries so they have rotated two other players--Tom Pace and Mike Williams--through the backfield. Either way, they have a talented line featuring center Scott Peters and guard Regis Crawford to lead the way. For the first time since the season opener, USC will have its three starting linebackers--Frank Strong, Mike Pollard and Matt Grootegoed--in the lineup at the same time.

Key to the game--Who can deal best with key injuries? Arizona State has a depleted defense and will play without top return man Daryl Lightfoot, who injured his right foot last week. The Trojans will be without veteran Bernard Riley and must play a number of freshmen along the defensive line.Fast fact--Arizona State defensive tackle Tommie Townsend, a team captain, started his college career at USC before transferring in 1998. The pick--If USC hopes to grab hold of the season before it slips away, now is the time. That should translate into a charge of urgency and emotion on the field. The edge: Trojans.

The line--USC by 21/2.