The No. 13 USC Trojans (6-2, 3-2) will look to salvage what’s left of their season when they host the Oregon State Beavers (5-3, 3-2) in USC’s annual homecoming game on Saturday at the Coliseum. The two teams are tied for fourth in the Pac-10 and are looking to make a move up the standings. USC is also hoping to rebound from a disappointing loss at Oregon, and the last time the Trojans lost two consecutive games was in 2001.

But Saturday’s contest pits the Trojans against one of the hottest teams in the conference. Winners of three straight games, Oregon State seems to have righted itself after a poor start to the season, and the Beavers now boast the top rushing defense in the country (allowing just 54.5 yards per game on the ground). Offensively, Oregon State is led by senior tailback Yvenson Bernard, who is the team’s leading rusher (102 yards per game) and receiver (32 receptions). Bernard, however, injured his shoulder during Saturday’s game against Stanford, and if he cannot play (which seems likely), the Beavers will turn to the inexperienced Matt Sieverson, who only recently moved to tailback from the defensive side of the ball. OSU also has improving first-year starter Sean Canfield at quarterback.

The Beavers have not won at the Coliseum since 1960, but, as you no doubt recall, they defeated the Trojans last year in Corvallis. Bernard also missed that game–a 33-31 upset of then third-ranked USC–but backup Clinton Polk ran for 100 yards in his place. (Polk is expected to backup Sieverson on Saturday.) In last year’s game, the Trojans dug themselves into a 33-10 second-half hole thanks to four turnovers, but rallied to pull within two points at the end of the game, only to have John David Booty’s two-point conversion pass batted down. The last time OSU traveled to the Coliseum was in 2003, when USC recorded an easy 52-28 victory. The Trojans lead the all-time series 57-9-4.

Here is USC’s official injury report, as of Sunday evening:

• POSSIBLE: OT Sam Baker (hamstring), OT Charles Brown (ankle), QB John David Booty (finger).
• QUESTIONABLE: C Kristofer O’Dowd (kneecap), OT-OG Thomas Herring (knee), DE Trey Henderson (knee).
• OUT: TB C.J. Gable (abdomen), WR Travon Patterson (foot), TE Jimmy Miller (back), LB Chris Galippo (back), S-CB Josh Pinkard (knee), CB Kevin Thomas (shoulder), OT Martin Coleman (shoulder), WR Damian Williams (shoulder).

Saturday’s game begins at 5:00p and will be televised by ABC. The Trojans are favored by approximately 14.5 points in early betting.

More articles, and stats for each team: TrojanUpdate’s Game Preview: USC-Oregon St.
Game week press release (Official USC site)
Homecoming 2007 information (Official USC Alumni Association site)
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