It’s No Longer Low-Cal Feast for the Trojans

This was supposed to be the breather, the only certain victory on USC’s otherwise ultra-tough 12-game schedule.

That was before rejuvenated California scored 70 points against Baylor in its opener. Before the Golden Bears whipped then-15th-ranked Michigan State on the road to improve to 3-0. And before Cal recovered from consecutive losses to No. 21 Air Force and No. 12 Washington State by upsetting No. 22 Washington last week.

So today’s Pacific 10 Conference game at the Coliseum, once regarded as a potential break for USC, instead carries make-or-break implications for the No. 20 Trojans.

“This game is huge,” USC quarterback Carson Palmer said.

It’s big because after USC had shut out Oregon State in its conference opener, the Trojans followed with a sloppy 30-27 overtime loss at Washington State. That defeat dropped the Trojans (3-2, 1-1 in conference play) into a fifth-place tie with California (4-2, 1-1) in the Pac-10.

With games against Washington and at No. 7 Oregon coming up, USC needs a victory to stop a potential downward spiral in Coach Pete Carroll’s second season.

It won’t be easy against a Cal team enjoying one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the nation.

New Coach Jeff Tedford, former offensive coordinator at Oregon, replaced Tom Holmoe and wasted no time erasing memories of last year’s 1-10 finish, the worst record in school history.

“I had no timetable, just a week-to-week basis,” said Tedford, who has the Golden Bears off to their best start since 1998.

Cal cannot participate in a bowl game this season because of NCAA rules violations, but the Golden Bears appear on track for their first winning season since 1993, when they defeated Iowa in the Alamo Bowl and finished 9-4.

Senior quarterback Kyle Boller is flourishing under Tedford, who tutored Trent Dilfer at Fresno State and Akili Smith and Joey Harrington at Oregon. Boller, 6 feet 4 inches and 225 pounds, has passed for 1,478 yards and 16 touchdowns. For the first time in his career, he is enjoying protection from an offensive line that has given up only seven sacks.

Last week, Boller led Cal to its first victory over Washington since 1976, a streak of 19 games.

“He looks like a real pro prospect, where last year he looked like just another guy,” Carroll said.

Cal is averaging 40.5 points and has outscored opponents, 142-38, in the first half. The Golden Bears have scored in all but one of their 26 trips inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.

Last year, Cal ranked 114th out of 115 schools with a minus-17 turnover margin. This season, Cal ranks fourth in the nation in turnover margin at plus 13 and has scored 70 points off turnovers.

“The turnover thing is ridiculous and giving their team an opportunity on offense,” Carroll said.

USC routed Cal at Berkeley last season, 55-14. The Trojans, however, must improve in several areas if they hope to defeat Cal at the Coliseum for the first time since 1994.

USC gave up several big plays against Washington State, among them a 75-yard touchdown run and a 53-yard pass play that set up the field goal that sent the game into overtime. That does not bode well against a Cal team that has produced 12 plays of 50 yards or more.

Making matters worse, USC might be without All-American safety Troy Polamalu, who suffered a high ankle sprain against Washington State and did not practice this week. Carroll said Polamalu’s status would be determined after warmups today.

Trojan special teams must also perform better. Kicker Ryan Killeen missed two field-goal attempts and a critical extra-point attempt late in the fourth quarter against Washington State that prevented the Trojans from taking a four-point lead.

Like Washington State, which forced overtime and won the game with field goals, Cal has a reliable kicking game.

“Our hands are full in all phases of the game,” Carroll said.