USC SCOUTING REPORT

* Time: 3:30 p.m.

* Site: Memorial Stadium, Berkeley.

* TV: Channel 9.

* Radio: XTRA (690).

* The offenses: USC’s offense doesn’t shoulder the blame alone any longer after the Trojans lost to Stanford even though Mike Van Raaphorst passed for a school-record 415 yards and the Trojans rolled up 587 yards. Receiver R. Jay Soward is expected to play despite a sore hamstring, but the USC coaches have more confidence in Windrell Hayes and Kareem Kelly lately because of Soward’s dropped passes. One troubling Trojan trend: nine turnovers in the last three games, all losses. Cal’s young offense averages only 17.7 points a game. The Bears are led by freshman quarterback Kyle Boller from Newhall Hart High, but another freshman standout, tailback Joe Igber, has been slowed because of a partially separated shoulder and won’t start, although he is expected to play.

* The defenses: Cal shut out UCLA two weeks ago at the Rose Bowl, but the Bears have given up some big plays at crucial times. Still, Cal leads the Pacific 10 Conference in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense--and perhaps most worrisome for USC, the Bears lead the league with 34 sacks. USC’s defense has repeatedly faltered in the second half, giving up 130 points after halftime compared to 51 in the first half. USC is being outscored after halftime, 130-86. Trojan linebacker Markus Steele is playing despite a shoulder injury that will require surgery after the season, and backup Darryl Knight is being asked to take some of the load off Steele. USC’s opportunistic defense hasn’t scored a touchdown the last two weeks after accounting for five earlier in the season.

* Key to the game: It couldn’t be simpler: When USC gets a lead, it has to hold it.

* Fast fact: The visiting team has won the last four games in this series, and USC is 28-11-1 in Berkeley.

* Line: USC by 5 1/2.

HOW THEY COMPARE

USC CAL 33.1 Scoring 17.7 25.9 Points allowed 25.0 285.9 Passing offense 139.4 120.1 Rushing offense 125.6 406.0 Total offense 265.0 254.1 Passing defense 238.7 131.4 Rushing defense 115.0 385.6 Total defense 353.7