SATURDAY'S OPPONENT: Cal (6-2, 4-1)
SITE: LA Coliseum, 5 p.m.
CAL STORY LINE: The Bears are talented and deep, if not always ready to play up to their talent. They've got speed, depth and a defense that runs to the ball and takes it away. They always seem to play USC right down to the wire, despite losing the past four matchups and six of the past seven. They make USC make plays at the end of the game. They have one of the most talented tailbacks in the Pac-10 in Jahvid Best, although he's been a bit banged up. And with Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley, they have perhaps the best 1-2 quarterback punch in the conference, and a pair of linebackers, Zack Follett and Mike Mohamed, in the new 3-4 defense that's showcasing their linebackers' athleticism. They lead the nation in interceptions with 17 (to USC's 12) and lead the Pac-10 in turnover margin with a plus-8 (to USC's plus-6). They fell apart in a 28-point third quarter at Arizona three weeks ago, but came back to become one of two-teams to hold Oregon under 31 points in a 26-16 win last week. The other team? USC, which held the Ducks to 10.
CAN'T-MISS BEARS
QB NATE LONGSHORE (6-5, 233, SR.): Expect Longshore (67 of 118, 8 TDs) to start since he led the win over Oregon after Kevin Riley (87-162, 10 TDs) suffered an early concussion that's limiting him this week. But don't be surprised if Riley returns should Longshore struggle.
C ALEX MACK (6-4, 316, SR.): Perhaps the best center in the nation, he's smart, tough and an All-American who seems to be up for every scholar-athlete and football award given to seniors and centers.
TB/KR JAHVID BEST (5-10, 193, SO.): The speedster averages 173.7 all-purpose yards, sixth-best in the NCAA, and he's second in the Pac-10 and No. 23 in Division I-A in rushing (105.1 yards a game). He needs just 43 yards to reach 1,000 in his career. OLB ZACK FOLLETT (6-1, 238, SR.): He leads Cal with 11 ½ tackles for loss and five sacks and is one of 20 players on the Lott Award list. He's the Pac-10 defensive player of the week after making 11 tackles, with three for losses, against Oregon. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
CAL COACH JEFF TEDFORD: "We've been up and down ... it'd be nice to put a whole game together."
USC COACH PETE CARROLL: "Facing another team with a chance to be the conference champion ... we're thrilled to be playing these guys in the Coliseum."
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