THE KEY GAMES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 18, 1996 12 AM PT

USC (4-2, 2-1) at ARIZONA STATE (6-0, 3-0)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7.

* STORYLINE: This is a show-me game for the Trojans, who have skidded out of the national polls after starting the season with national title aspirations. A victory in Tempe would get USC back in the top 25 and on track for a Rose Bowl repeat. For the Sun Devils, the game is almost as important as the one against Nebraska because it will be televised nationally and could sway poll voters.

* USC UPDATE: As many predicted, the Trojans have been strong defensively but undone by inexperience in the offensive line. Last week, in a 14-7 victory over Arizona, the conference’s top-ranked defense held the Wildcats to 247 yards while the offense needed a strong performance by senior quarterback Brad Otton, who was sacked seven times.

* ARIZONA STATE UPDATE: The Sun Devils nearly left their national title hopes on the Rose Bowl turf before rallying to defeat UCLA, 42-34. Quarterback Jake Plummer continues to amaze, as he led a 28-point second-half comeback in which he threw two touchdown passes, caught one and ran for another score.

* EDGE TO ARIZONA STATE: The Sun Devil defense, which shut out Nebraska, may make Otton wish Kyle Wachholtz was still around to share some of the punishment. The USC defense will have to shine again for the Trojans to have a chance.

* THE LINE: Arizona State by 7.

OTHER GAMES

UCLA (2-3, 1-1) at WASHINGTON (3-2, 2-1)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., Channel 9.

* STORYLINE: It was a week for crisis counselors for both schools. UCLA blew a big lead against Arizona State and Washington was blown out at Notre Dame.

* UCLA UPDATE: This is a pretty decent team. The Bruins had two top-10 teams on the ropes this season, Tennessee and Arizona State, but have also been plagued by confounding lapses.

* WASHINGTON UPDATE: The Huskies found out what Notre Dame mystique was all about after a 54-20 loss that wasn’t that close. Washington hasn’t lost consecutive games in the regular season since 1989.

* EDGE TO UCLA: One of these days, the Bruins are going to win a tough game on the road. Early season tests at Tennessee and Michigan will prepare them for this breakthrough victory.

* THE LINE: Washington by 6 1/2.

AUBURN (5-1) at FLORIDA (6-0)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 2.

* STORYLINE: Auburn is trying to pull off a repeat of 1994, when the Tigers went into Gainesville and beat the No. 1 Gators. For Florida, another victory over a ranked opponent should quiet those who think Ohio State is No. 1.

* AUBURN UPDATE: The Tigers are coming off an impressive, 49-15 victory over Mississippi State in which they amassed 486 total yards. Quarterback Dameyune Craig warmed up for the Gators with a 375-yard, four-touchdown performance.

* FLORIDA UPDATE: The Gators crushed a quality Louisiana State team last week, 56-13, totaling 635 yards in offense in what Coach Steve Spurrier called “the best game in my seven years here.”

* EDGE TO FLORIDA: Not only does Auburn have to contend with quarterback Danny Wuerffel, but also with two running backs, Elijah Williams and Fred Taylor, who rushed for more than 100 yards last week.

* THE LINE: Florida by 21 1/2.

NEBRASKA (4-1) at TEXAS TECH (4-2)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., pay-per-view.

* STORYLINE: A showdown between Big 12 divisional leaders. Or is it? Since their Sept. 21 loss to Arizona State, the Cornhuskers have outscored Colorado State, Kansas State and Baylor, 154-12.

* NEBRASKA UPDATE: The Cornhusker defense is ranked seventh nationally. Tailbacks Ahman Green (387 yards), freshman DeAngelo Evans (347) and Damon Benning (281) have combined for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns.

* TEXAS TECH UPDATE: Lubbock is home to the nation’s leading rusher, Byron Hanspard, who has a 217.7 yards-per-game average.

* EDGE TO NEBRASKA: The Cornhuskers apparently took the Arizona State loss personally and are taking it out on all opponents.

* THE LINE: Nebraska by 22.

COLORADO (4-1) at KANSAS (3-2)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

* STORYLINE: Kansas ended a 10-game losing streak against Colorado last year in Boulder, one of only two losses for the Buffaloes (the other was to Nebraska).

* COLORADO UPDATE: Twelve players received one-game suspensions for their roles in a telephone calling-card scam. Nine sat out last week’s win over Oklahoma State (good thinking); three others will sit this weekend.

* KANSAS UPDATE: The Jayhawks have the nation’s seventh-leading rusher in June Henley but would trade a few of those yards for costly early season losses to Utah and Texas Tech.

* EDGE TO COLORADO: The Buffaloes remain one of the most gifted teams in the country. Kansas isn’t as good as it was last year.

* THE LINE: Colorado by 7 1/2.

IOWA (4-1, 2-0) at PENN STATE (6-1, 2-1)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 9:30 a.m., ESPN2.

* STORYLINE: This is gut-check time for Iowa, which can start planning for Pasadena with a victory here followed by a home victory over Ohio State next week.

* IOWA UPDATE: Quarterback Matt Sherman is 14-5 as a starter and stepped it up in last week’s 31-10 victory over Indiana, completing 16 of 28 passes for 243 yards. Tailback Sedrick Shaw is averaging 89 yards a game after gaining more than 1,000 yards in his sophomore and junior seasons.

* PENN STATE UPDATE: The Nittany Lions, shellshocked after a 38-7 loss to Ohio State two weeks ago, recovered to take out Purdue, 31-14, last week at home. Curtis Enis had 177 rushing and receiving yards, three touchdowns.

* EDGE TO PENN STATE: The Hawkeyes have a history of losing big games and have lost four in a row to Penn State. Iowa has not defeated Penn State since 1983.

* THE LINE: Penn State by 10 1/2.

THE LINE ON THE REST

California plus 3 1/2 at Washington St.

Stanford minus 9 at Oregon St.

North Carolina St. plus 19 at Virginia

Vanderbilt plus 15 1/2 at Georgia

Georgia Tech minus 6 at Clemson

Mississippi plus 12 at Alabama

Arkansas plus 5 1/2 at South Carolina

Wake Forest plus 8 1/2 at Maryland

East Carolina plus 17 1/2 at Miami

Tulane plus 6 1/2 at Army