The biggest Pacific-10 conference game slated for play this week would have been Oregon State against Washington State, but the Beavers didn’t hold up their end of the bargain last week and were pounded at home by a resurgent Washington team.
All eyes have been moved to the USC-Washington tilt, set to take place on Saturday in Seattle. The game will be regionally televised on ABC.
USC (6-1 overall, 2-1 Pac-10) continues its bid for a shot at the national title. In the first Bowl Championship Series standings released this year, the Trojans are ranked seventh. The Trojans dominated Notre Dame last week, 45-14, on national television.
Washington (4-3, 2-1) was outgunned last year when the two squads met. It was an aerial display as heavyweights Carson Palmer and Cody Pickett tried to one-up each other for the win. The Trojans came out on top, 41-21. Palmer threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns, while Pickett threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns.
“Nobody has stopped (USC),” Washington head coach Keith Gilbertson said. “They have such balance and diversity in their offense. So you just hope that you can slow them down. They are going to get the points and move the ball because that is how talented they are.”