Pac-10 Preview | Arizona tests Trojans

Somber thought, probably not shared around Heritage Hall on the USC campus: What if the last two weeks represent the real Trojans of 2007, slogging around aimlessly at Washington, dead meat against 41-point underdog Stanford at home?

We begin to get answers today, when the chastened Trojans (4-1) host Arizona (2-4).

In more ways than one, Troy will be trying to reinvent itself. The most glaring disparity between this USC team and the best ones under Pete Carroll has been its inability to create and curb turnovers.

Carroll's take? "It's driving me crazy," he said this week.

USC began what is now a 63-7 run in 2002, and its turnover totals have usually mirrored the ferocity of its play. From 2002 to 2005, the Trojans were plus 18, 20, 19 and 21 in turnover margin — never worse than fifth nationally.

But they dropped to a mere plus-four last year, and this year, it's an unthinkable minus-seven — a tie for 106th in the nation, just ahead of Kent State (3-3) and Iowa State (1-5).

Some of that is pedestrian play by quarterback John David Booty, who was replaced this week by Mark Sanchez because of Booty's finger injury. Some of it is inexperienced receivers, and some of it is a succession of injuries that have hounded the defense in particular. Ten projected Trojans starters have missed games with injuries.

"It doesn't matter how good you are if you're turning the ball over," Carroll said, vowing a rededication to the turnover issue.

Arizona has a different focus. The Wildcats have been pussycats on the road, and they haven't waited long to declare themselves. In their three road games this year at Brigham Young, California and Oregon State, they've been outscored 59-6 in the first quarter and outgained 786-293 in those first halves.

"You've got to bring great competitive spirit to the game every time you step onto the field in this league," said Arizona coach Mike Stoops. "You've got to compete early. If you don't, teams feel that and smell blood."

Stoops shrugs at the notion that the Trojans will have their fire restored by the comeuppance against Stanford.

"They're going to be mad," he conceded. "But they're usually mad when they play."

Oregon State at California: In an odd series, OSU (3-3) has won three straight at Cal — two during the Jeff Tedford regime — and Cal has blown out the Beavers twice consecutively in Corvallis.

Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield has been an interception waiting to happen, but the Beavers' run defense has risen to tops in the nation at 43.3 yards a game.

Cal, meanwhile, is 5-0 and ranked No. 2, its highest rating since 1951, and some eyes in Berkeley — apparently not including Tedford's — will be trained on top-ranked Louisiana State's visit to Kentucky today.

Asked what the polls mean, Tedford answered, "Nothing whatsoever. We're trying to get better."

Texas Christian at Stanford: TCUwas ranked No. 22 in the preseason and Stanford was, as usual in recent years, a preseason punchline. But the Frogs, thought to be a BCS-bowl contender, are just 3-3, and Stanford (2-3) is bathing in an upset for the ages.

"TCU doesn't care that we beat USC," said Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

Tavita Pritchard, the sophomore from Lakewood's Clover Park High School, will get a second consecutive start, and Harbaugh hopes he has the same calm about him that he had against USC.

Harbaugh says that before the fourth-and-20 pass that set up the winning touchdown last week, Pritchard came to the sideline but couldn't completely hear Harbaugh's instructions.

"It was 'All Go Special,' " Harbaugh said. "He heard 'All Go' and ended up calling 'Double Go.' In my version, the tight end goes into the pass route, in his, the tight end stays in for blocking protection.

"I think I liked his version better."

Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com