Trojans Not Heeding the Streak

In a sign of how times have changed, USC is playing up its role as underdog in tonight’s game against No. 7 Oregon at Autzen Stadium. “A tremendous challenge,” Coach Pete Carroll calls it.

After all, the Trojans have lost three in a row to Oregon. But while this bit of history provides incentive for revenge, the team has done its best to ignore the Ducks’ 22-game winning streak at home. The coaches haven’t talked much about it. Neither have the players.

“We can’t think about how many games they have won,” defensive end Lonnie Ford said. “We just need to think about going in there and getting a Pac-10 win.”

The players want to erase the memory of a close game that slipped away against Kansas State.

With Stanford, Washington and Notre Dame looming on the schedule in the next month, they know that upsetting a nationally-ranked opponent will boost their confidence.

And, if they look back far enough, they can find a good omen. Since the series began in 1915, Oregon has never won more than three games in a row against them.

“This is a big-time opportunity for ‘SC,” Carroll said. “We couldn’t make a bigger statement.”

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With the kickoff set for 7:15 p.m., the Trojans have some time to kill today. Maybe a stroll along the Willamette River? A visit to the open-air market in town? If it were up to the players, they would stick around their hotel rooms and watch games on television.

The coaches have other ideas. They have scheduled a day filled with team meetings and a walk-through.

“We have a lot of things planned,” Carroll said. “I want them to concentrate on our game.”

HOW THEY MATCH UP

When USC has the ball: Is this the week the new spread offense gets going? The Oregon defense is inexperienced, especially up front, so the Trojans hope tailback Sultan McCullough returns to the form that saw him run for three touchdowns against San Jose State in the season opener. They also need more production from the receivers, though Kareem Kelly and his teammates will go against Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith, two of the best cornerbacks in the Pacific 10 Conference. No matter, quarterback Carson Palmer is eager to throw deep, something he hasn’t done often this season.

When Oregon has the ball: While everyone raves about quarterback Joey Harrington, USC safety Troy Polamalu says he is concerned about the Ducks’ running game, especially tailback Maurice Morris. “He’s so quick in the hole that it’s hard to tackle him in that space,” Polamalu said. But the Trojans believe their defense was designed to face this kind of balanced attack. Look for more blitzing and more of the trickery for which Coach Pete Carroll is known. “Their offense fits our scheme,” defensive tackle Bernard Riley said. “We can bring out everything in the playbook.”

Key to the game: It’s doubtful that USC will maintain its average of surrendering only 10 points a game. The question is, can the Trojans score early enough to quiet the crowd, and often enough to keep pace if the game turns into a shootout?

Fast fact: USC faces an Oregon team ranked in the Top 10 for the second season in a row, something that never happened in the first 86 years of this series. The Trojans have a 1-4 record when the Ducks are ranked anywhere in the Top 20.

The pick: USC can control the clock with an effective running game, but the Ducks have the crowd, the winning streak and momentum on their side. If Oregon jumps to an early lead, this one could be over by halftime.

The edge: Ducks.

The line: Oregon by 61/2