Oregon @ Southern California preview
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2009 ) Southern California 20, Oregon 47
No. 1 Oregon is poised to complete its ascension to a position of dominance in the Pac-10, but the Ducks know they'll first need to kick Southern Cal to the curb, an act they would like to complete this week.
Oregon knows it won't be easy. It hasn't won at the Los Angeles Coliseum since 2000, it will be Homecoming for USC and the ESPN “GameDay” crew will be on hand to add that additional jinx factor.
Oregon (7-0, 4-0 in Pac-10) took a step in the right direction toward becoming the king of the Pac-10 a year ago by pounding the Trojans 47-20, the worst whipping absorbed by a Pete Carroll-coached USC team.
The Ducks are No. 2 in the BCS standings and will play for the national championship if they complete an unbeaten season. Southern Cal (5-2, 2-2) is not eligible to play in a bowl game, but is treating this game like one.
The game is expected to be a shootout, with both sides bringing explosive and entertaining offenses to the table.
Oregon averages 55.1 points and 569.1 yards per game, thanks largely to quarterback Darron Thomas, one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien national quarterback award, and running back LaMichael James. Thomas has thrown for 1,539 yards and 17 touchdowns and James has rushed for 971 yards (161.8 per game) and 11 touchdowns. The Ducks strike quick too - of their 44 touchdown drives, 22 have taken five plays or less.
Southern Cal, which averages 37.4 points and 494 yards per game, is led by quarterback Matt Barkley, also a semifinalist for the O'Brien Award. The sophomore has completed 138 of 211 passes for 1,869 yards and 20 touchdowns. He's only been picked off twice and has twice thrown five touchdowns in a game. He has currently thrown 119 passes without an interception.
Barkley must beware of Oregon’s rugged pass rush, which ranks second in the conference and 20th in the nation. The Ducks average 2.7 sacks per game, led by end Kenny Rowe, who has four this season and 20.5 in his career.
Southern Cal may be without defensive end Nick Perry, who missed a midweek practice due to high ankle sprain that has bothered him since preseason. Perry leads the team with three sacks. Offensive tackle Tyron Smith also missed practice and may be replaced by a redshirt freshman, but freshman tailback Dillon Baxter will return after sitting out with a toe injury since early October.
Southern Cal holds a 37-17-2 advantage in the series, but Oregon has won seven of the last 12 meetings. USC is 7-11 against No. 1-ranked teams, with its last victory coming against Washington in 1984.