UCLA at USC (-7) - 12:30pm Pacific
As a local resident, it is easy to understand the magnitude of this game for the Trojans. USC has lost an unthinkable 8 straight games to bitter cross-town rival UCLA. T-shirts and other items have dawned "the streak" for years now. It's gotten to the point that Trojan players, coaches, and fans are ready to explode. That is exactly what we think USC is ready to do in this game. The Trojans have 6 losses, but there is not a single one that they could not or should not have won. They have had some incredibly frustrating losses and will be looking to take some of that frustration out on the Bruins. This will easily be the biggest game of Paul Hacket's tenure here. Hackett was 6-1 ATS as a home favorite last year but is 0-4 this year. Look for that to change this week. USC ended their five game losing streak last week despite looking ahead to this. Senior QB John Fox took every snap as the Trojans played almost mistake free and had a 31-14 lead midway through the 4th quarter at Washington State. USC RB Chad Morton rushed for 117 yards and 2 TD's. Morton is only 86 yards away from the elusive 1,000 yard mark and earlier this week personally guaranteed a USC victory! UCLA will be starting a new freshman QB 4th stringer Ryan McCann. McCann looked okay in relief work vs Washington but it will be a whole different story this week as he makes his first start in a huge game surrounded by hype and pressure. Believe me, he is not the guy UCLA would like to have leading them trying to extend their win streak to 9. The Bruins will also be starting a new center and starting SS Lovell Houston will likely miss the game with a concussion. The Bruins incredibly will be starting their 44th and 45th different players this season! It's no wonder they are so bad. Before upsetting Washington last week, UCLA was outscored 105-14 in their previous 3 games! The UCLA defense is porous and the offense just cannot keep up with other teams this year. The Trojans had 7 turnovers in last years meeting, several in key moments. Trojans will end the streak in a big way. USC  2 UNITS

Clemson at South Carolina (+14) - 9:35am Pacific
We have been saying for almost the entire season that something good is due to happen for Lou Holtz and the Gamecocks. That statement could not be anymore true right now. South Carolina is on a school record 20 game losing streak, head coach Holtz has seen his son in the hospital and his mother pass away this season. Now instate rival Clemson comes into Williams-Brice stadium hoping for a bowl berth with a victory and the horrible season almost all could be forgotten with a Gamecock victory here. Holtz stated before and after the Vanderbilt game 4 weeks ago that for the first time all year he felt he had a real football team on the field and the Gamecocks should have beaten Vandy that day. They did not have much of a chance at Tennessee and vs Florida but they did show further advancement after their BYE week by playing the Gators tough. The Gamecock offense has a decent amount of weapons at WR and RB and starting QB Petty returned from injury to take every snap last week vs Florida. The Gamecock defense has 9 starters from last season and has been solid all year despite continually being put in bad situations by the offense. Clemson may be a little distracted from the tragic attempted suicide this week by backup RB Javis Austin. Holtz stated yesterday that the Gamecocks had their sharpest Thursday practice of the season! If not a straight up win, we will at least see a sold out crowd and an all out effort. Gamecocks cover. South Carolina  2 UNITS