Colors and contrasts for USC and UCLA
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Both teams will be dressed for success in their home jerseys, but only one will be sitting pretty at game's end -- and the No. 5 Trojans are favored by 33 points.
USC goes into the 78th game of the crosstown rivalry playing for the Pacific 10 Conference title and a Rose Bowl date with Penn State. UCLA could finish a tough season on a high note and send the Trojans to the Holiday Bowl if the Bruins can channel 2006 and pull off another upset on their home turf. Times staff writer Gary Klein looks at some of the key issues and matchups when USC, a 33-point favorite, plays UCLA in a game that never lacks for color -- especially when both teams will be wearing home jerseys for the first time since 1982.
Coach carousel
USC's Pete Carroll and UCLA's Rick Neuheisel meet for the first time since 2002, when the Trojans beat Washington, 41-21.
And more than that, today's game features a tangled web of coaching relationships.
UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow, running backs coach Wayne Moses and defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker were part of Carroll's first Trojans staff in 2001.
Chow will scheme against Carroll while Chow's replacement, former protege Steve Sarkisian, schemes against Walker.
It could be the final regular-season game in their respective positions for both Sarkisian and Walker. Sarkisian is expected to become head coach at Washington and Walker is a candidate for several coaching vacancies.
Passed tense
Trojans quarterback Mark Sanchez, who played only one series at the end of last season's 24-7 victory over the Bruins, is eager to get his first real taste of the rivalry.
The fourth-year junior leads the Pac-10 in passing efficiency. He has completed 65% of his passes and thrown for 28 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
However, UCLA could make moving through the air tough. The Bruins, featuring cornerbacks Michael Norris and Alterraun Verner and safeties Rahim Moore and Brett Lockett, rank second nationally in pass defense -- behind only USC.
UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft gets no break a week after Arizona State returned three interceptions for touchdowns. USC will rotate veteran cornerbacks Cary Harris, Josh Pinkard and Kevin Thomas and veteran safeties Taylor Mays, Kevin Ellison and Will Harris.
Ellison has been cleared to play for the first time since having knee surgery in early November.
Craft has thrown for seven touchdowns but has had 19 passes intercepted, second-most among major-college quarterbacks.
Line-item veto
