LOS ANGELES -- So the last time the USC Trojans faced the Washington State Cougars was in the second game of the 2013 season, and the Cougs came away from the Coliseum with a stunning 10-7 victory, thanks to a 41-yard field goal by Andrew Furney with just 3:03 remaining in the contest. The incredulous loss set in motion the eventual firing of Lane Kiffin, the promotion of former defensive line coach Ed Orgeron to interim head coach, the unexpected advancement later of offensive coordinator Clay Helton to interim head coach, and the eventual hiring of Steve Sarkisian as the current USC head coach. Since that chain of events, the Trojans (5-3, 4-2 Pac-12), under first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian, and Washington State (2-6, 1-4 Pac-12), guided by third-year head coach Mike Leach, have been 2014 program roller coasters. As we enter the month of November, it would be safe to say that both programs have not met expectations, and Saturday afternoon's game will either add to deeper misery and or keeping bowl hopes alive. To put it on the table, neither team is expected to play in the Pac-12 title game but a bowl game is not out of the question. However, the road to a postseason reward is in sudden death for the Cougars. WSU has to win all its final four games to be bowl eligible. On the other hand, the Trojans need to win just one more game to officially become bowl eligible. Including Washington State, the Men of Troy will have four shots to accomplish a potential bowl invitation. If anything, this Saturday's game at tiny but loveable Martin Stadium figures to be a highly-entertaining affair, courtesy of that mad professor of Pac-12 airborne football, the one and only Mike Leach. The Cougars are one of the Pac-12's most top offenses, ranked second behind Arizona. On the other hand, the Trojans are ranked eighth in total offense. Say what you want about the eccentricities of Mr. Leach, but the man has proven that he knows what he is doing. The Cougars have no problem putting points (35.2 avg.) on the board but have a problem keeping opponent's points off the board (38.0 avg.). Washington State will be led by senior quarterback Connor Halliday, who just happens now to be WSU's all-time leading passer and ranks tops in the Pac-12 as a thrower (479.1 ypg.) The Trojans counter with junior quarterback Cody Kessler, who has played with grit and determination this season. In addition, with the Pac-12's leading rusher in junior Buck Allen (126.2 avg./g), the Trojans can light up the scoreboard as well (33.8), especially against a weak WSU defense. Of course, it remains to be seen just what kind of teams come out of the locker room on Saturday. With the Trojans still trying to maintain some sense of purpose to the 2014 season and Washington State numb from last Saturday's 50-37 marathon loss to No. 14 Arizona, perhaps only a sports psychiatrist can predict what will happen this week in the Palouse Country. To add a little extra distraction to Saturday's festivities, there is always the November weather in Pullman. The forecast is for light rain with a high of 45, which make for a true fall football game. For the Trojans, they'll hope they won't be experiencing an Arizona State redo in terms of giving up massive yards through the air. If ASU backup quarterback Mike Bercovici can produce a 510-yard, five-touchdown passing performance, then you can imagine just what Halliday is capable of producing. Last weekend in a losing effort to Arizona, Halliday, the nation's leading passer, threw for 489 yards on 79 pass attempts, good for four touchdowns. Given that Kessler recently tossed a single-game school record of seven touchdowns against Colorado, the prospects for a dueling passing circus is in the realm of probability. At the very worst, Saturday's contest should be anything but dull, and there is nothing like a little quarterback showmanship for a potentially high-scoring, fall afternoon of enjoyment.
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