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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

First look

Time: 12:30 p.m., Saturday. TV: FSN

The records: Washington State (1-6, 0-4 in Pac-10).

No. 6 Southern California (4-1; 2-1).

Last week: USC defeated Arizona State, 28-0.

WSU lost to OSU, 66-13.

Last time: USC defeated WSU 47-14 in Los Angeles last season.

The line: USC by 42.5

What it means for WSU

Each week is a chance for the Cougars to improve. That’s about it now, with winning seemingly being such a far-fetched possibility. With the injuries on offense, that group is looking to take care of the ball and eat clock, allowing the defense a rest and giving it a chance to make plays a little longer. Another factor for WSU is effort. The Cougars need to show their home fans that, no matter the score, they are playing hard to the end.

What it means for USC

A Trojans win would be their 400th in Pac-10 (and the conference’s other designations) play. A big win also keeps alive their national championship hopes, which many thought were dashed earlier this month in Corvallis. Any kind of win keeps alive the conference title hopes. USC has to avoid looking past the woeful Cougars to next week’s matchup in Tucson with Arizona, a team that has given the Trojans trouble the past few years.

Key matchup

USC’s right defensive end Clay Matthews vs. WSU’s left tackle.

Just whom Washington State will play here is a mystery. With Vaughn Lesuma (shoulder) and Steven Ayers (neck, concussion) hurting, it will be either walk-on freshman Will Hunter or sophomore Joe Eppele. Whoever it is, he will be charged with protecting the quarterback’s blindside against the USC rush, which already has 15 sacks. Matthews, who moved into the starting lineup last week, has two of those and, at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, is a speed rusher of the type that’s given WSU’s left tackles fits this year. Expect the Cougars to use a tight end or a running back for help on this side.

Vince Grippi, staff writer