Twelfth-ranked USC (7-2, 4-2) will travel to Berkeley on Saturday for a game under the temporary lights at Memorial Stadium against No. 24 California (6-3, 3-3). The once highly-ranked Golden Bears (who at one point seemed a few minutes away from becoming the nation’s top-ranked team) fell out of the top 25 after losing three consecutive conference games, but reappeared in two of the three major polls this week after a victory over Washington State last Saturday. Cal has wins against two of the three ranked teams they have faced, defeating then-15-ranked Tennessee in the opener and outlasting then-11-ranked Oregon in Eugene in late September, but falling to Arizona State a few weeks ago. (Cal is the only school to beat the Ducks this season.)

Cal is led by junior quarterback Nate Longshore (62.8% completions, 1,849 yards), senior tailback Justin Forsett (111.3 yards per game) and receiving threats Lavelle Hawkins (53 receptions, 681 yards) and DeSean Jackson (51 receptions, 586 yards), although Longshore has been plagued since the Oregon game by a sore ankle. Jackson, of course, is also one of the most talented punt returners in the nation (with six career punt return touchdowns), although he has only been able to return ten punts this season as most teams have avoided kicking to him. Cal’s offense has had a harder time scoring since Longshore’s injury, and their defense has also struggled at times, especially against the pass (where they surrender almost 250 yards per game).

The Bears, however, have given Pete Carroll’s Trojans fits since the coach arrived at USC, with 3 of the last 5 contests between the schools decided by 6 points or fewer. In last year’s matchup at the Coliseum, the Bears held a 9-6 halftime edge, but the Trojans responded with 17 unanswered points in the second half for a 23-9 victory. Two years ago in Strawberry Canyon, USC’s offense thoroughly outplayed their shorthanded Cal counterparts in a 35-10 victory. The Bears’ last triumph in the series was a triple-overtime, 34-31 win in 2003 in Berkeley.

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

• POSSIBLE: OT Sam Baker (hamstring), C Kristofer O’Dowd (kneecap).
• QUESTIONABLE: FB-S Alfred Rowe (ankle), OTOG 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 sold-out game is scheduled to start at 5:00p and will be televised by ABC. The Trojans are favored by 4 points in early betting.

More stats and articles for each team: TrojanUpdate’s Game Preview: USC-Cal
Official game week press release (Official USC site)
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