Arizona Republic: ASU's Quarterback & WSU's Defensive End Both Say Cal is Better than USC

Norm Frauenheim

Southern California is No. 2 in the first Bowl Championship Series poll, but Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter says the Trojans are only the third-best team in the Pac-10.  Ahead of USC, Carpenter ranked California No. 1 and Oregon No. 2 during a news conference this week. Carpenter has seen all three - up close and painful - in three consecutive losses, a skid ASU hopes to end Saturday against winless Stanford at Sun Devil Stadium. Cal and Oregon blew away the Sun Devils, who got within seven points of the Trojans last Saturday in Los Angeles.  Carpenter is not alone in his opinion. Washington State defensive end Mkristo Bruce, the nation's leader in sacks, also says the Trojans aren't the Pac-10's best. The Cougars, who face once-beaten Oregon at home this Saturday, lost to once-beaten Cal last Saturday (21-3) and unbeaten USC (28-22), on Sept. 30, both also at home.  When asked to pick between the two, Bruce told reporters:

"Cal wins. USC is a great football team. They've got a high-powered offense and a high-powered defense. But Cal is a more relentless football team."

If receivers Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith and Chris McFoy recover from injuries during a bye this week, the Trojans could get a lot better, although it might be too much to expect their old dominance in the first season after the departure of Heisman Trophy winners Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

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