The defending national champion USC Trojans (9-0, 6-0 Pac-10), ranked No. 1 in both major polls and the BCS rankings, put their 18-game winning streak on the line this Saturday, Nov. 13, against the Arizona Wildcats (2-7, 1-5) at 7:15 p.m. (PDT) in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and in front of a national FSN cable television audience. It is the 28th meeting between the two schools in a series that dates to 1916, and the Trojans lead the series 21-6. While USC has won the past two games against Arizona, both in Tucson, but the Wildcats won the previous match-up in the Coliseum, 31-15, in 2000.

Arizona arrives in Los Angeles riding the momentum of its first victory since early September. The Wildcats won at woeful Washington, 23-13, last Saturday, snapping a seven-game losing skid that included defeats to three BCS top-seven opponents – Utah, Wisconsin and California. The Trojans, meanwhile, won their 13th straight Pac-10 contest and 10th straight road game, beating a game Oregon State team, 28-20, last Saturday in the Corvallis fog. USC can clinch its third-straight Pac-10 crown with a Homecoming victory Saturday, and could also tie the school record with a 20th straight home win. The Wildcats are playing their first game against a top-ranked opponent since a 1992 tilt vs. Washington, which Arizona won, 16-3, in the desert. Overall, Arizona is 2-3 against No. 1-ranked squads – the other win coming in 1981 at the Coliseum, 13-10, over USC. However, Arizona is 0-17 against ranked opponents since October 2000.

Trojan Coach Pete Carroll (38-9, 25-5 Pac-10) is in his fourth season at USC, having led the Trojans two consecutive Pac-10 crowns, a pair of BCS bowl wins (2003 Orange and 2004 Rose) and a share of the 2003 national championship. Meanwhile, first-year Wildcat Coach Mike Stoops, a Oklahoma, Kansas State and Iowa assistant (and brother of BCS No. 2 Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops) arrived talking big about turning Arizona around, but has found the Pac-10 terrain a bit rougher than he expected. And though the Wildcats have been more competitive than they were in recent seasons during the horrific John Mackovic era, at this point, UA simply lacks the talent to compete with the conference’s big boys.

Among the many issues Arizona has faced this year is simply putting points on the scoreboard. The Wildcats 23 points last Saturday were a season high, and Arizona has scored 14 or fewer points in more than half of its games. Replacing sophomore quarterback Kris Heavner with redshirt freshman Richard Kovalcheck a few weeks back hasn’t really paid many dividends, and the running game, featuring junior Mike Bell and a veteran line has actually taken a step back from last season. Meanwhile, a solid starting 11 on defense kept Arizona in many games early in the season, and has stayed basically healthy – a good thing with the lack of quality depth. But the lack of offensive firepower has drained the defense on many occasions. Against USC, the Wildcats lack of anything resembling a potent offense seems to doom Arizona to its eighth defeat.

Kovalcheck has a stronger arm than Heavner, who started last season in USC’s 45-0 rout in Tucson. However, with risk-averse game plans from offensive coordinator Mike Canales, Arizona has not really given its playmakers much chance to make plays. In his third start, Kovalcheck faces a USC defense that has eaten young quarterbacks for lunch the past three seasons. With a completion percentage of less than 50 percent and an upside-down TD/interception ratio (2 TDs, 4 INTs), Kovalcheck will have to have the game of his life to keep the Wildcats competitive. In fact, so will the rest of an Arizona offense that ranks seventh in the conference in rushing and dead last in passing, scoring and total offense (and below No. 100 nationally in all three).

Wide receivers Syndric Steptoe and Ricky Williams are Arizona’s leading pass catchers, but both are underused in this conservative offense. The rest of the outside pass-catching corps – Anthony Johnson, Mike Jefferson and Biren Ealy – have all started at least once this season. Steve Fleming and Clarence McRae share the tight end spot, but Arizona mostly attacks out of three-wideout sets.

Bell is the conference’s fifth leading rusher, but his 4.4 yards-per-carry average is a big drop from his 2003 numbers. Chris Henry and Gilbert Harris are the other options – Harris is listed as a second string fullback, but gets the bulk of the carries Bell doesn’t make. Along the front five, the Wildcats have experience, starting two juniors and two seniors. Left tackle Chris Johnson and center Keoki Fraser are the senior leaders, while junior guards John Abramo and Kili Lefotu are among five players who have had a start at those two slots. Freshman Peter Graniello, the starting right tackle, has also seen time at guard. Much more was expected of this group at the start of the season, especially with the experience featured. However, with most defenses not respecting the Arizona passing attack and putting eight and nine in the box to stuff the run, it has been a tough year for the offensive front.

The Wildcat defense, on the other hand, is drastically improved from 2003, cutting 14 points and 120 yards per game off of their averages allowed a season ago. Veteran leadership, talented youth and the ability to dodge the injury bug, mixed with defensive coordinator Mark Stoops 4-3 scheme, has allowed the Wildcat defense to make big strides. Similarly to Oregon State, the Wildcats like to be physical in the secondary (though they are not as capable and strong as the Beavers) and blitz rarely. Arizona ranks fourth in the conference in rushing defense, allowing 117 yards per game. The Cats also rank fifth in the Pac-10 in total defense and scoring defense. However, Arizona is dead last in the conference in pass efficiency defense and rarely forces teams to make mistakes in the passing game. The Wildcats seven interceptions and 16 sacks are not strong.

Up front, Arizona is led by senior defensive end Andre Torrey, the Wildcats lone true pass-rushing threat. He’s joined by a group that has started together every game in 2004: senior nosetackle Carlos Williams, sophomore tackle Paul Philipp and junior end Marcus Smith. Lionel Dotson and Brad Brittain will rotate in at the tackle slots, while Copeland Bryan is their most effective back-up end. The linebacking corps has had an up-and-down campaign and is definitely not the fastest group of middlemen in the Pac-10. The three starters this week appear to be Dane Krogstad on the strong side, Randy Sims in the middle and Kirk Johnson on the weak side. Sean Jones and Pat Howard have both started at least four times in 2004.

This secondary features big hitting experience at the safety positions and talented youth at the corners. The defense is designed to walk up a safety on most every down, hence free safety Darrell Brooks and strong safety Lamon Means are the Cats’ leading tacklers. Freshman corners Antoine Cason and Wilrey Fontenot have learned on the job and been far better than expected. Still, without an effective pass rush and with the safeties helping against the run, the Wildcats have been very susceptible against good passing teams. Those teams who’ve had the greatest success against Arizona are the ones who’ve challenged them with the pass first and followed by beating on them with a good running game.

Placekicker Nick Folk handles both scoring situations and kickoffs. He’s been very average on both, making just over half his field goal attempts and not getting many touchbacks. His high kickoffs, though, have meant good coverage numbers for the Arizona’s special teams. Punter Danny Baugher has struggled, averaging less than 35 yards net – bad news with Reggie Bush lurking. Steptoe, Fontenot and Ryan Eidson handle the return duties – they aren’t spectacular, but they get the job done.

Norm Chow and the Trojans likely faced the toughest defensive match-up they will see for the rest of the regular season last weekend in Corvallis. Yes, the Wildcats have improved markedly, but they aren’t in the same league as OSU, Cal or Virginia Tech. Chow and quarterback Matt Leinart should be able to return to a comfort zone on Saturday night, as the Wildcat defense invites a throw-first scheme – something the Trojans are at home with.

However, USC must get its wide receivers more involved this week. I shudder to think of what could happen in an Orange Bowl game if the Trojans are unable to rely on their speed guys outside. Yes, Bush is an excellent guy to have in the passing game, and it’s great to see Dominique Byrd dominating at the tight end spot again. But Dwayne Jarrett and Chris McFoy must step up. The return of Steve Smith, which looks likely for the Notre Dame game, will also help. USC needs more from its receivers. This should be a game that they can build on. Then, look for Bush, LenDale White, Hershel Dennis and Desmond Reed to bash the Wildcats on the ground in the second half.

The Trojan defense is quickly becoming one of the legendary units in USC football history. With just three games remaining, USC is allowing fewer than 12 points per game and ranks in the top six nationally in each defensive category. Led by Lombardi Award finalist Shaun Cody, defensive tackle Mike Patterson and linebackers Matt Grootegoed and Lofa Tatupu – All-American candidates all – the Trojan defense kept USC in last week’s game just long enough to allow the offense to come around. This week, they shouldn’t need to do so – likely, we’re in for another performance similar to the Arizona State and Washington games.

Expect USC to again shut down the opponent’s rushing attack, as Bell will find holes to come by. Carroll will likely mix up his defensive packages to confuse the young Kovalcheck, utilizing coverage schemes mixed with zone blitzes to rattle him. To be blunt, both teams would have to go completely against form for Arizona to get even two touchdowns in this game.

Bring on the Irish and Bruins! USC 49, Arizona 6.