TOP OF THE BILL

Best vs. beast

Oregon has, statistically, the best offense in the Pacific 10 Conference.

The Ducks (6-1), led by dual-threat quarterback Dennis Dixon, lead the league with averages of 46.6 points and 550.9 yards a game.

But that unit will be facing perhaps the conference’s best defense.

USC (6-1) gives up 16.6 points a game, which is second in the league, and a conference-best 252.1 yards a game.

Fooled you

Dixon, 6 feet 4 and 205 pounds with sprinter’s speed, is a great athlete -- he played minor league baseball last summer -- and he’s also something of a magician.

His ball-faking skills have been a difference-maker all season. The Statue of Liberty play against Michigan -- he seemed to make the ball disappear before letting loose a long touchdown pass -- was just one example.

The Ducks’ offense has 40 touchdowns this season -- 22 requiring two minutes or less of possession time. Twelve of those drives lasted less than a minute, and seven were 18 seconds or less.

No waddling

As good a passer as Dixon is, the Ducks also have the Pac-10’s top rusher, Jonathan Stewart.

Powerful and fast, Stewart leads the league with averages of 134.3 yards rushing and 197 all-purpose yards a game.

Which sets up another key matchup.

The USC run defense is second in the conference, giving up only 64.1 yards a game.

In a blowout victory at Washington last week, Oregon ran for 465 yards, the second-most in school history, led by Stewart’s 251 yards. It was the fourth time this season the Ducks have run for more than 300.

The others:

Sept. 1 vs. Houston: 339 yards.

Sept. 8 at Michigan: 331 yards.

Sept. 15 vs Fresno St.:

307 yards.

A ‘big’ advantage

Many Pac-10 observers say the force behind Oregon’s offense is an experienced line led by center Max Unger, a converted tackle who has made 32 consecutive starts. He often pulls to become the lead blocker on runs outside the tackles and he will be counted on to block USC’s All-American candidate at defensive tackle, Sedrick Ellis.

Of course, there are other Trojans defenders to deal with. Led by Ellis and underrated tackle Fili Moala, the Trojans are No. 3 nationally in total defense and have the players to win the battle at the line of scrimmage.

This is crucial in defending Oregon’s spread attack. When the Ducks are forced to deal with middle penetration, they usually struggle with many of their trap plays and quick-hitting dive runs.

Another strength for USC is at linebacker. With Brian Cushing returning off the injured list to join Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga, the Trojans have three agile and physical linebackers who do not have to leave the field against Oregon, which relies on mismatches to free up skill players.

However, Oregon will have a size advantage with a line that averages 315 pounds.

History lesson

The Ducks have feasted on teams that make wholesale changes in an attempt to defend their spread offense.

That’s not USC’s style. The Trojans like their defensive backs to keep the play in front of them and make tackles.

USC has to be able to get this done today in order to deal with Oregon’s high-flying offense -- but the Trojans have done it before. In fact, the last two times USC and Oregon played, the Ducks came in with, statistically, the Pac-10’s top offense.

A summary of those games:

2006: Oregon before USC averaged 36.3 points and 457 yards.

Final -- USC 35, Oregon 10. Ducks held to 358 yards.

2005: Oregon before USC averaged 40.7 points and 490 yards.

Final -- USC 45, Oregon 13. Ducks held to 262 yards and shut out after taking 13-0 lead in the second quarter.