Different Challenges Await Trojans, Bruins

Differences between USC and UCLA are endlessly expressed through e-mails, message boards and old-fashioned typewritten letters.

Similarities? Well, both teams play a ranked opponent Saturday.

Leave it at that.

USC (1-1) faces No. 7 Oregon. The Trojans need an upset.

UCLA (2-0) faces No. 21 Ohio State. The No. 14 Bruins must beware of an upset.

USC had a scheduled open date Saturday and launches Pacific 10 Conference play against the prohibitive favorite.

UCLA had its Pac-10 opener postponed and plays its third nonconference opponent.

USC has played two at home and must steel for a stiff road test--Oregon (2-0) has won 22 in a row in Eugene.

UCLA has played two on the road and pines for the comforts of the Rose Bowl--nine of the Bruins’ 10 victories the last two years have come at home.

USC Coach Pete Carroll looks at Oregon and sees a tough climb. The Trojans have not defeated the Ducks since 1997.

“I think we can make ground up,” he said.

UCLA Coach Bob Toledo looks at Ohio State and sees a slippery slope.

The Bruins lost to the Buckeyes, 42-20, in 1999, depleted by the loss of 10 players suspended in the handicapped parking scandal.

“This is totally different but we can’t have a letdown,” he said.

USC must prepare a second time for the nouveau riche , a confident opponent heady with recent success. The Trojans fell to No. 12 Kansas State, 10-6, on Sept. 8.

UCLA must prepare a second time for the old guard, a storied program ranked as much on reputation as performance. The Bruins knocked off No. 25 Alabama, 20-17, on Sept. 1.

USC again will face a team coached by a rising star that has infused a beleaguered program with respectability. Oregon’s Mike Bellotti is to the West what Kansas State’s Bill Snyder is to the Midwest.

Like Kansas State, Oregon “has an established system on both sides of the ball,” Carroll said.

UCLA again will face a team with a revamped coaching staff. Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, who spent the last 15 years at Youngstown State, is attempting to make his mark in a program defined by legendary Woody Hayes, much the way Alabama’s Dennis Franchione is attempting to make his in a program defined by legendary Bear Bryant.

“We’ve had to watch a lot of video from where these coaches were last year to get an idea what to expect,” Toledo said.

USC has an identity crisis on offense.

Tailback Sultan McCullough ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns against San Jose State but disappeared against Kansas State, getting the ball sporadically in a strategy that sought, unsuccessfully, to establish the pass before the run.

UCLA discovered its identity early.

Tailback DeShaun Foster ran for 110 yards against Alabama and 189 against Kansas. First-quarter play-calling has been a steady diet of Foster, setting up reverses, fullback dives and play-action passes.

USC quarterback Carson Palmer has completed 57% of his passes but is still looking for his first touchdown.

UCLA quarterback Cory Paus has completed only 47% of his passes but has connected with Tab Perry for two long touchdowns.

USC’s surprisingly strong defense has been toughest against the pass, giving up 119.5 yards a game. Against the run, the Trojans give up 227.5 yards.

UCLA’s surprisingly strong defense has been toughest against the run, giving up 124 yards a game. Against the pass, the Bruins give up 227.5 yards.

Yes, the Trojans and Bruins are most easily defined by their differences.

Preparing for formidable foes is all they have in common this week. Besides coaches who fret.

Said Carroll: “Good teams, they amplify your mistakes.”

Said Toledo: “There are concerns getting ready for any team, but against a good one those concerns stand out.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Key Comparisons

Statistics for quarterbacks and tailbacks at UCLA and USC after two games:

*--*

Cory Paus Carson Palmer 18 Comp. 37 38 Att. 64 283 Yards 410 .474 Pct. .578 2 TD 0 0 Int. 1

*--*

*--*

Sultan McCullough Deshaun Foster 43 Car. 52 207 Yards 289 4.8 Avg. 5.6 4 TD 1

*--*

*

Times staff writer David Wharton contributed to this story.