NCAA Game of the Week - #4 USC Trojans vs. #12 Oregon Ducks

Pac-10 rivals with their eyes on the Rose Bowl get it on in Eugene on Saturday night for an absolutely imperative must-win game for both the USC Trojans (6-1, 2-5 ATS) and the Oregon Ducks (6-1, 5-2 ATS).

Both teams still have hopes to stay in the National Championship race, but the loser will be ousted from the chase for good and will probably have to turn their sights on a game like the Holiday Bowl. BetUS Sportsbook currently has the Trojans installed as 3-point favorites on the college football point spread, while the 'total' has been set at 47.

Save for that blowout in Berkley in the first week of October, the mighty Trojans have been getting all that they can handle from the competition of late. Four of their L/6 games have been decided by a touchdown or less, including last week's 42-36 win at home against Oregon State.

It seems as though everyone is trying to take advantage of the fact that this version of USC doesn't seem to be as strong as in years' past, but right now, HC Pete Carroll's bunch probably knows that it will be playing for all of the marbles if it can run out from here; regardless of how unimpressive the victories are.

Freshman QB Matt Barkley has had his ups and downs this season, but all in all, football betting fans of the Trojans have to be pretty happy with his efforts. Barkley has completed a shade over 60% of his passes this year for 1,540 yards with seven TDs against five picks.

It seemed like the entire season was lost for the Ducks in Week 1 when they were beaten down by the Broncos on the Smurf Turf, but six wins later, they're back up to #12 in the country with a chance to jump into the Top-10 this weekend with a major upset. After having a miserable game against Utah, QB Jeremiah Masoli has had a fantastic three-game stretch. He has completed at least 64% of his passes in all three starts for a total of 526 yards and five TDs without turning the ball over. He’s also run for 272 yards and seven scores this year. However, the junior QB had a terrible time trying to produce any offense against the USC 'D' last season, as he went just 18/29 for 156 yards and a pick in U of O's 44-10 defeat.

The Trojans have won and covered five of the L/6 in this series, but Carroll will be quick to remind his players about the 24-17 defeat that they suffered at Autzen Stadium two years ago that knocked them out of the National Championship race. The Ducks come into this game having covered five straight, outscoring their opponents by an average of 26.0 points per game in that stretch. No Pac-10 team has come into Eugene and walked out with a victory since the final game of the 2007 regular season in the Civil War against Oregon State. The Ducks aren't going to let that trend go easily. Grab the field goal!!!

Rose's Recommendation: 3* Oregon Ducks (+3)

Rating Scale 1* - 5*