UCLA again tackles Mission: Implausible against USC

By Gary Klein >>> The oddsmakers consider it among the longest of longshots.

So do most college football fans, even those who went to school in Westwood.

But UCLA players today will draw inspiration from the not-so-distant past when they play fifth-ranked USC in the 78th game in the cross-town rivalry.

Two years ago, UCLA upset the Trojans, 13-9, at the Rose Bowl.

If the Bruins could do it then, receiver Marcus Everett reasons, "We can do it now."

Perhaps. Not likely. But . . .

Few gave UCLA much of a chance on Dec. 2, 2006. The Bruins, under embattled coach Karl Dorrell, were 13 1/2 -point underdogs in their home stadium against a USC team that was poised to clinch a third consecutive Bowl Championship Series title-game appearance.

That was before Bruins quarterback Patrick Cowan made like Vince Young in the first quarter, scrambling for long gains and scoring a touchdown. Before defensive end Bruce Davis beat USC linemen and terrorized quarterback John David Booty. And before Bruins linebacker Eric McNeal leaped, tipped a pass and cradled the ball for an interception that clinched the victory.

Today, USC is a 33-point favorite against first-year Coach Rick Neuheisel's Bruins. The Trojans, already assured of at least a share of their seventh consecutive Pacific 10 Conference title, can win it outright and lock up a berth in the Rose Bowl game against Penn State.

Most consider a USC victory a foregone conclusion. Some predict the Trojans will register their season's fourth shutout.

"Doesn't matter," Trojans safety Kevin Ellison says. "That's totally the wrong way to think about it because that will come back and bite us."

USC Coach Pete Carroll saw it happen against UCLA two years ago. And against Stanford, a 42-point underdog, last season. And at Oregon State in September.

"We have great respect for what they're doing over there and what they're capable of doing," Carroll says of the Bruins, "and know they have it in them to put together a game and knock us off."

Of course, the Trojans said the same thing two years ago. Then they went out and lost to UCLA for the only time in seven games against the Bruins under Carroll.

Bruins defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, a former Carroll assistant in the NFL and at USC, devised a scheme that stymied the Trojans and enabled the Bruins to win with Cowan's touchdown and two field goals.