Norm Chow's spread offense is becoming a delicious treat for Carson Palmer. The quarterback kid with the platinum arm is finally getting it! Palmer, the fifth-year senior, never looked more poised and in control of the USC attack than he did against Washington, supposedly a good defensive team. Palmer's deep touchdown passes to Keary Colbert and Kevin Williams in the first half cleared the way for USC's running game and opened other options up for strategist Chow, who a few years ago engineered BYU's high-scoring machine. The Trojans travel to Eugene, Ore., this week where they have lost to the Oregon Ducks three straight times. The Ducks were stunned last week by the ever-improving Arizona State Sun Devils, 45-42, and although quarterback Jason Fife says his team has moved past the loss, the Ducks suddenly don't appear to be invincible at noisy Autzen Stadium. USC linebacker Matt Grootegoed said, "That's too bad. We wanted to be the first team to beat them." The race to the Rose Bowl is on and this game is another big hurdle for both teams. Here's a look at some matchups out West this weekend.

USC (5-2) at OREGON (6-1)--The key for both teams will be their running backs and defenses. Oregon, of course, has Onterrio Smith, who is nearing the 1,000-yard mark again. "We have to play the run effectively to have a chance," says Coach Pete Carroll. USC's trio of tailbacks--Sultan McCullough, Justin Vargas and Malafeou MacKenzie--are more than adequate, especially McCullough. USC has been competitive in the three losses to the Ducks, but its offense was unable to make the big play with the game on the line. With Carson Palmer's confidence in the offense riding high and kicker Ryan Killeen now consistently making field goals and PAT's, USC should kick it's losing habit at Eugene, 31-28.

CALIFORNIA (5-3) at OREGON STATE (4-3)--This will more than just a football test for Oregon State. The Beavers have midterm exams this week to add to the stress of preparing for the Golden Bears, who upset UCLA last week, 17-12. Cal has won five games for the first time since 1998, under new coach Jeff Tedford. All of its losses have come against ranked teams. Quarterback Kyle Boller, who leads the Pac-10 with 19 touchdown passes, set a school record when he threw his 55th TD pass against the Bruins. The Beavers, who are out of the Rose Bowl derby, need to start a winning streak to have a chance for a bowl bid. The Watcher likes Oregon State at home in an upset.

STANFORD (1-4) at UCLA (4-3)--Even though Cory Paus' ankle injury threw the quarterback situation into a tizzy, UCLA's running game and defense should help the Bruins win this one even with one of the team's trio of freshman quarterbacks at the helm, Matt Moore being most likely to start.

WASHINGTON (4-3) at ARIZONA STATE (6-2)--"For the first time in a couple of years, we're facing real adversity, where the buzzards are swirling," said Huskie Coach Rick Neuheisel. For the red-hot Sun Devils, reeling Washington could be easy pickings in the desert.

LOOKING AHEAD: If Notre Dame gets past Florida State this weekend, the Irish will be 8-0 and will more than likely go on to win their next three games against Boston College, Navy and Rutgers. That would put Notre Dame into its season finale against USC at the Coliseum unbeaten and with a shot at the national championship game in the Fiesta Bowl. It was 38 years ago in 1964 when an unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Notre Dame, coached by Ara Parseghian, came to Los Angeles to play USC. The Trojans, on a Craig Fertig to Rod Sherman TD pass late in the game, upset Notre Dame, 21-17, ending the Irish's chance for a national championship. What are the chances of history repeating itself? Trojan fans have a gleam in their eyes.

COASTAL NOTES: A Washington State victory over Arizona this week will make the Cougars a bowl-eligible team. They are ranked No. 7 in the first BCS standings... Oregon's wide receiver Keenan Howry is having a terrific season... The Arizona State Sun Devils are nationally ranked for the first time since early 1999, at No. 23...What a difference a year makes for BYU. Last season at this time the Cougars were leading the nation in total offense and scoring with 542.8 yards and 46.7 points per game. In its last two games this season, BYU has scored only one touchdown and 12 points...Andrew Walter's 536-yard passing performance against Oregon last Saturday was a Pacific 10 conference record. Arizona State's 6-5 sophomore quarterback rallied the Sun Devils from a three TD deficit to beat the Ducks...UCLA quarterback Cory Paus will undergo surgery this week on his broken ankle....Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury and Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich will play in the Hula Bowl Feb. 1 at War Memorial Stadium on the island of Maui.