 "Photo: Joel Zink | Daily Trojan")
USC is not familiar with this territory, and hasn't been for some time.
The Trojans know the confines of Autzen Stadium well, but it's been a while since they've played a regular season game as the underdog.
No. 9 USC (6-1, 3-1 Pac-10) is not the favorite - something the Trojans have been for every regular season game during the past five years - entering Saturday's game against Oregon at Autzen Stadium at noon.
"If you guys hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have known," USC coach Pete Carroll said at his Tuesday media conference.
The Trojans prepared for the game with the same quarterback uncertainty they have dealt with for the past two weeks. John David Booty took snaps from center this week for the first time since injuring his right middle finger in an Oct. 6 loss to Stanford.
Despite Booty's progress, Mark Sanchez was named the starter on Thursday.
The Ducks made sure to prepare for both quarterbacks but saw similarities between the two, allowing them to practice as usual.
"I don't think they'll have a different game plan per se," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. "The guys do things a little differently, but both guys run the offense very well."
Carroll said that many other injured Trojans were ahead of schedule and could return for the Oregon game, including All-American left tackle Sam Baker, who is expected to return to the line-up after sitting out against Notre Dame.
Carroll also said offensive guard Chilo Rachal is expected to play for the first time since injuring his knee against Washington.
No. 5 Oregon (6-1, 3-1) has also felt the impact of injuries. The Ducks enter the game without three of their top receivers as well as Jeremiah Johnson, one of the team's top running backs and a high school teammate of USC's Stafon Johnson.
But the Ducks' attack has steamrolled opponents on its way to averaging 46.6 points per game and earning the title of the Pac-10's top offense.
Hawaii, often criticized for scheduling weak opponents, is the only team in the country averaging more points than Oregon.
"We have taken some hits, but we have continued to put up some pretty good numbers because we understand that system a little better," Belotti said.
"This might be the best offense that we've played since we've been here," Carroll said.
Quarterback Dennis Dixon has been the centerpiece of Oregon's flourishing offense. The senior from Oakland, has totaled more than 2,100 yards and compiled 23 touchdowns both running and passing.
Even in the Ducks' lone loss to Cal, Dixon passed for more than 300 yards and kept his team in the game until the final minute.
"We have to have a lot of attention on him and make sure that we don't miss our opportunities to bang him around and at least make it a hard day for him," Carroll said.
Running back Jonathan Stewart joins Dixon in the Ducks backfield. Stewart is coming off a career-high 251 rushing yards against Washington.
But something has to give as the conference's top offense meets the conference's top defense in USC.
Carroll hopes it's not his unit that blinks first.
"This is definitely as big a task as we've had, so hopefully we can find a way to gear up and slow them down and give us a chance to win," Carroll said.
The Trojans will face a hostile crowd of 59,000 expected fans at Autzen Stadium. After establishing an early lead against Notre Dame and quieting the crowd in South Bend, Carroll is looking to follow the same plan Saturday but recognizes the challenge his team faces.
"We controlled it early and didn't let [the crowd] get going," Carroll said. "That's what you hope to do, but this is a very difficult place."
