DON'T THINK. IT CAN ONLY HURT THE BALLCLUB

USC has one big win to its credit this season - 44-24 over a legitimate Arizona State team - it just happens to have been the last game it played.

Is that enough to make it a 20-point favorite over UCLA? It seems any chance USC gets to return to dynasty status, people are waiting in line to hand it to them.

Remember, this is the same UCLA team that re-routed the Trojans' season to the Rose Bowl last year when overrated Ohio State was waiting to be had in the national championship game.

But all of a sudden, UCLA doesn't have a chance on Saturday?

The Bruins have motivation: They can still win the Pac-10 for cryng out loud. They managed to stay in contention in the most non-threatening way possible - with one of the ugliest wins in college football history last week, a 16-0 victory over Dennis Dixon-less Oregon.

The Trojans, however, are suddenly world-beaters becasue John David Booty doesn't have a broken finger? Take a look at his numbers (11-for-20, 129 yards, 1 TD) in a 7-point win two weeks ago over Cal, the SEVENTH-PLACE team in the Pac-10. His stats are mediocre for the entire season.

While the Trojans quarterback problems consisted of inserting blue-chip recruit Mark Sanchez for a couple of games, UCLA started a guy last week (and the week before that) who might still be listed as a receiver on the depth chart. Garey High School's own Ossar Rasshan never even completed 50 percent of his passes in high school. His illustrious run as the Bruins starter ended at halftime last week.

Enter Ben Olson.

What better time to get back your No. 1 guy than the week before the USC game? Olson, while less than spectacular during last week's second half, was the guy expected to lead the preseason No. 14 team in the country this year. He is the most talented of the UCLA quarterbacks.

It goes without saying that the Trojans have more talent in one of their (broken) fingers than UCLA does on its entire roster. But who expected the Bruins to even hang with mighty USC last season? I was at the Oregon-UCLA game last week. I'm well aware of how horrendous the Bruins looked. But they didn't exactly singe the grass at the Rose Bowl last season while dropping the Trojans. The only things burning were Pete Carroll's cheeks.

After a disappointing season, USC has less on the line this year. And UCLA actually has something significant to play for. The Bruins will need to play inspired football to have a chance but rivalry games tend to bring that out in teams.

So, on one side you've got highly motivated underdog UCLA with its most talented QB back under center. On the other side you've got a USC team looking for its second significant victory of the season.

Let's not crown the Trojans just yet.

At least not until the Bruins "let 'em off the hook."