And now comes the big test.
Will Oregon have the answer?
A week after allowing Arizona State sophomore Andrew Walter to throw for a Pacific-10 Conference record 536 yards in a 45-42 loss, No. 14 Oregon (6-1 overall, 2-1 Pac-10) must now face No. 15 USC (5-2, 3-1) and its experienced passing threat.
The Trojans’ fifth-year quarterback, Carson Palmer, outdueled Washington’s Cody Pickett for 348 yards and four touchdowns in USC’s 41-21 rout of UW last week. Unlike ASU, the Trojans also feature a stacked receiving attack, which includes four receivers who have more than 20 catches this season.
“Carson Palmer and that talented group of receivers are certainly capable of putting up a lot of points,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said.
Palmer, who’s on pace to become the Pac-10’s career passing-yardage leader, is looking for his first win against Oregon in his fifth try.
“It’s the biggest game of the year, by far,” Palmer told the Los Angeles Times. “This is the game we’ve all been waiting for.”
It’s also a game that will test the resilience of Oregon’s secondary. Bellotti said earlier this week that freshman Aaron Gipson’s starting cornerback position was open, but the coach said a decision may not be made until game time.
“I have certainly been concerned lately, and it’s not the yards that we’ve given up that concerns me — the yards don’t mean anything — it’s the points,” Bellotti said. “No defense wants to give up a long scoring play … but we’ve been the victim of many over the last two weeks.”
USC’s Mike Williams, a true freshman from Tampa, Fla., will likely be in the middle of the Trojans’ deep attack. The 6-foot-5 receiver, the tallest the Ducks will have faced so far this season, recorded three touchdowns and nine catches for 159 yards last week.
Oregon’s best corner, Steven Moore, is listed as 5-foot-9, though Bellotti said safety Keith Lewis, at 6-foot-1, may match up against Williams on occasion.
“He’s the total package,” Bellotti said of Williams. “He can go after the ball and it’s just another weapon in that arsenal where you can’t double anybody because they’re all very, very dangerous.”
USC presents a problem in the backfield, as well.
Senior tailback Sultan McCullough, who was held to 31 yards in a losing effort at Autzen last season, rushed for 176 yards on 39 carries in a win over Cal two weeks ago. Against Washington last week,
McCullough was held tight by the Huskies — though the Trojans
didn’t need much of a running game.
“Oregon and the other teams are going to see the tape,” USC offensive lineman Lenny Vandermade said after the win over Washington. “If they want to take away the run, we have some receivers that can hurt you.”
The Ducks, for sure, will see the tape. But they have bigger issues
to address.
“We have to regroup and get our house in order,” Bellotti said. “I think our players are frustrated and angry but we need to put that frustration to work for us. We need to practice harder and we need to understand that we were in this same position a year ago and found ways to come back with greater resolve.”
The matchup also showcases Oregon’s top-ranked scoring offense, which averages 38 points per game, and USC’s top-ranked scoring defense, which allows 18 points per game.
It seems someone has to budge, right?
Besides Oregon’s ability — or lack thereof — to stop the pass, the game could turn on USC’s defense of Onterrio Smith.
It should be an interesting development. Smith, the Pac-10 rushing leader at 133.7 yards per game, seeks his eighth straight 100-yard game against a USC defense that has allowed 100.3 yards per game, third-best in the league.
“If you can’t stop the run then you can’t stop anything,” USC head coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ll have to play the run very effectively to have a chance in this game.”
One advantage Oregon may have is that USC has not beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 1995. Since then, the Trojans are 0-7-1 in those games, including a 30-27 overtime loss to Washington State on Oct. 5.
The Ducks have also won four straight over the Trojans, including the last three at Autzen.
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