ShareThisCapsule previews for this week's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.THURSDAY:No. 1 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (2-0) at OREGON STATE (1-2), 9, ESPN.FAVORITE: USC by 26.COACHES: Pete Carroll (78-14 in 8th year at USC) and Mike Riley (48-40 in 8th year at Oregon State).LAST GAME: USC beat Ohio State, 35-3, on Sept. 13. Oregon State beat Hawaii, 45-7 on Sept. 13.SERIES HISTORY: USC leads, 58-9-4.LAST MEETING: USC won, 24-3, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Trojans are 67-5-2 all-time in games when ranked No. 1.GAME FACTS: In spite of historical dominance, Trojans have actually struggled in Corvallis, losing two of last three trips to Reiser Stadium since 2000, including 33-31 loss two years ago to 10-point underdog OSU, which came in with 4-3 record. That looks unlikely this time as Trojan defense (leads nation in scoring, 5 ppg, second in total defense, 197 ypg, 18 tackles for loss, 7 turnovers forced) has been dominating and QB Mark Sanchez (leads Pac-10 in QB rating, 43-of-63, 510 yards passing, 7 TDs, 2 ints.) is getting time, making all the right decisions. All RB Joe McKnight (166 rushing, 9.2 per carry, TD run, TD catch) needs is more touches to get into the Heisman race. Meanwhile, Beavers' woes include turnovers (80th in nation in turnover ratio, 4 gained, 5 lost), porous defense (92nd in nation in scoring, 29.3 ppg), shoddy kicking game (114th nationally in net punting, 29.2 ypp, 2-of-5 on FGs). Exciting freshman RB Jacquizz Rodgers did flash potential with 110 yards, 2 TDs vs. Hawaii. QB Lyle Moevao also looked good vs. Hawaii (20-of-34, 268 passing, 3 TDs), but faltered in losses at Stanford, Penn State (combined 4 ints., 3 TDs). In upset of USC two years, ago senior WR Sammy Stroughter (21 catches, 3 TD this season) was hero with 8 catches, 2 for TDs, 60-yard TD on punt return as OSU nearly blew 33-14, third-quarter lead.FRIDAY:CONNECTICUT (4-0) at LOUISVILLE (2-1), 8, ESPN2.FAVORITE: Louisville by 3.COACHES: Randy Edsall (50-48 in 10th year at UConn) and Steve Kragthorpe (8-7 in second year at Louisville).LAST WEEK: Connecticut beat Baylor, 31-28. Louisville beat Kansas State, 38-29.SERIES HISTORY: Louisville leads, 3-1.LAST MEETING: Connecticut won, 21-17, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since joining Big East in 2004, Huskies are 1-12 in conference road games while giving up 37 points per game.GAME FACTS: In moving to 4-0 for second straight season, Huskies showed different personality as usually stout defense had issues (gave up season-high 377 total yards, 3 TD passes). But offense came to rescue with RB Donald Brown's 3-yard TD run with six minutes left the difference. QB Tyler Lorenzen was both good (73 yards rushing, 2 TDs including 34-yard QB draw) and bad (13-of-25, 125 passing, 2 ints., 6 for season) and remains work in progress even as a senior. Cardinals want revenge for last year's upset in Storrs when UL looked like it got hosed by refs, who ignored apparent fair-catch signal by UConn's Larry Taylor, who then blew past startled Cards on 74-yard punt return TD. Last week, QB Hunter Cantwell (22-of-33, 274 passing, 2 TDs), RB Victor Anderson (176 rushing including 29 and 56-yard TD bursts) formed impressive 1-2 punch. Defense (second in nation vs. run, 42 ypg) needs to generate more pass rush (only 2 sacks in 3 games). Senior CB Woodny Turenne already has 2 ints.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
College football capsules including USC vs. Oregon State
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