Arbet Will Be Trying to Even Score

Cornerbacks are supposed to have short memories, but Kevin Arbet cannot help recalling what happened when USC played at Stanford last season. The Trojans lost on a last-second, 20-yard touchdown pass to Jamien McCullum--the receiver Arbet was covering.

The junior can still see that football sailing over his outstretched hand.

“I replay it in my head,” he says. “Not as much as I used to, but I still do.”

Arbet, who plays in nickel situations, sees today’s game as a chance to redeem himself against a Cardinal offense that comes into the Coliseum averaging nearly 280 yards in passing.

“Intercepting a pass, running one back for a touchdown,” he says. “I’ve dreamed about it.”

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After studying videotape of USC all week, Stanford Coach Tyrone Willingham thinks he knows why the Trojans’ supposedly high-powered offense is averaging only 16 points and has fallen short in the last two games. A critical fumble against Kansas State, he said, and three interceptions against Oregon.

“When you’re making turnovers, it’s difficult to win a football game,” he said. “You can be an outstanding quarterback or an outstanding runner

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USC coaches started looking at film of Pacific 10 teams the moment they arrived on campus last winter, trying to compensate for the disadvantage of not having seen their conference opponents year in and year out.

“[We] have spent an exorbitant amount of time,” Coach Pete Carroll said. But, he added: “There are all kinds of things you only see in the game.”

HOW THEY MATCH UP

When USC has the ball: Coach Pete Carroll was happy about the yardage his offense chewed up last week at Oregon, not so happy about the turnovers and penalties, especially the instances when USC was flagged for illegal formation. “Those kill me,” he said. “One of those is too many.” A key for the Trojans this week will be to play more cleanly against a Stanford defense that comprises 11 seniors and is rarely out of position. Inside linebacker Coy Wire leads the team with 19 tackles. The Cardinal has yet to find a pass rusher to replace the departed linebacker Riall Johnson.

When Stanford has the ball: While running backs Brian Allen and Kerry Carter get all the glory for an offense that leads the conference in rushing, the line deserves much of the credit. Seniors Eric Heitmann, Zack Quaccia and Greg Schindler anchor a unit that averages nearly 200 yards. “They’ve got a great offensive line,” USC linebacker Mike Pollard said. That puts the onus on Pollard’s linebacking unit, an inexperienced group that has suffered from injuries. Chris Prosser gets his first start in place of Matt Grootegoed, who will miss a second consecutive game because of a shoulder injury. Look for six or seven players to rotate on the defensive line.

Key to the game: USC should move the ball on this defense but would have to nearly triple its scoring average to keep pace with a Stanford offense that scores 44 points a game. That means the Trojan defense must slow Stanford’s running game and contain Cardinal quarterback Randy Fasani.

Fast fact: Stanford is USC’s oldest rival in a series that dates to 1905. For much of that time, the Trojans dominated the Cardinal, amassing a 53-23-3 record, but Stanford has reversed the trend by winning the last two meetings and three of the last five.

The pick: While Stanford is on a roll, USC returns home after showing some mettle in hostile Autzen Stadium last week. More important, with Washington and Notre Dame in the near future, the Trojans need a win.

The edge: The Trojans.

The line: USC by 2.