NCCA College Football Week 13 - USC @ UCLA

Saturday, 4:30 pm Eastern
ABC
Opening Line: USC - 13.5

With a win this Saturday 2nd ranked USC will wrap up a spot in the BCS title game. USC (10-1, 7-1) would match up with top-ranked Ohio State for the national championship on Jan. 8 if they get by UCLA. A loss this Saturday means USC would have to settle for the Rose Bowl.

''I think we're a pretty good team right now,'' coach Pete Carroll said. ''We'll play anybody, anywhere.'' Sources from SBG Global report that smart money isn’t going on just anyone; it’s being put on the #2 team in the country.

''I just think we showed how much heart we have,'' Trojans leading receiver Dwayne Jarrett said. ''At the beginning of the year, we were the only ones that believed in ourselves. Media guys or whoever the case may be, were saying we were going to lose or SC is struggling.''

Jarrett has 24 receptions for 407 yards and six touchdowns in the last four games. Jarrett caught one of Leinart's three TD passes in USC's 66-19 rout of UCLA last season. It was the Trojans' seventh straight victory in the series since a 34-17 loss at the Rose Bowl in 1998.

''We have a great opportunity. We have a great game coming up, a great match up in a game we love to play in,'' Carroll said. ''We can't wait to get started.''

The Trojans have dominated UCLA of late winning the last seven. ''It's been very frustrating. It makes you sick,'' Bruins cornerback Trey Brown said. ''It's been way too long, especially for our seniors that have been here and worked so hard through their careers. 'What better way to send them off than by beating USC. They haven't had a chance to do so, and we have another opportunity. It's great.''

USC is a 13.5 point favorite with a total of 47.5 at SBG Global.

UCLA is expected to get back its starting quarterback for this game. Redshirt sophomore Ben Olson hasn't played since Oct. 7, when he tore a knee ligament in a 27-7 win over Arizona. Olson was 4-1 as a starter, completing nearly 64 percent of his passes for 822 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions. ''Physically, he's about 98 percent,'' coach Karl Dorrell said. ''He's really working hard on the game plan.

If Olson doesn't play, Patrick Cowan will be going for his third straight win as the starter. He was 14-of-24 for 187 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against Arizona State.

The USC defense has forced nine turnovers and allowed an average of less than 11 points per game during their winning streak. ''Really, we're the same defense we've always been, but a month ago is when we finally realized it, what we are capable of,'' said USC linebacker Dallas Sartz, ''but we are not done yet.''

UCLA (6-5, 4-4) is set to face Florida State at the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 27.

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