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GAME NOTES: Searching for answers following a stunning, last-second loss to Washington on the road, the USC Trojans return home to prepare for this weekend's Pac-10 battle with Washington State.

Pete Carroll's Trojans dropped a 16-13 decision to the Huskies and as a result, plummeted from the number three spot in the national polls to the 12th spot this week. The loss was particularly humbling considering the team shut out the same Washington squad last year 56-0 and came into the game following a thrilling 18-15 victory at Ohio State in week two. It also ended a 12-game win streak overall and an eight-game Pac-10 win streak.

The Cougars have the unenviable task of getting a USC squad that is itching to regain its swagger following a rare loss. Paul Wulff is in his second year at the helm in Pullman and his Cougars opened the season with losses at home to Stanford (39-13) and Hawaii (38-20). However, WSU finally found the win column last week, closing out its season-opening homestand with a 30-27 overtime win against SMU.

USC holds a huge advantage in this series which dates back to 1921 (56-8-4). The Trojans have won six straight over the Cougars and 33 of the last 37 meetings overall.

After three games, the Cougars are averaging 21 points per outing, on a decent 342.7 yards of total offense. Unfortunately, sustaining drives has been problematic for WSU, which is converting just 24 percent of the time on third down (10-of-42).

The team has employed both Marshall Lobbestael and Kevin Lopina under center, but neither has performed that well. Lobbestael has completed just under 48 percent of his tosses, with two TDs and three INTs. Lopina (58 percent, one TD, two picks) hasn't been much better. Coming off an injury-plagued 2008, Lobbestael got his feet wet again in the first two games, before getting the full support of Wulff in week three.

"We just felt like we needed more of a spark in our game and I think that Marshall Lobbestael can do that for us and we wanted to give him an opportunity. He's coming off an injury from a year ago that sidelined his season and he seems to be kind of slowly making it back and getting more and more comfortable and we just felt that week three, after some, a few plays in the first two games that he deserved an opportunity to take that next step."

Regardless of who is throwing the ball, Jared Karstetter is the top option, pacing the team with 11 catches, for 186 yards and two scores.

The ground game is generating a modest 105 yards and lacks a real workhorse in the backfield.

While the WSU offense has been mediocre at best, the Cougar defense has been dreadful statistically, yielding 34.7 ppg on 537.0 yards of total offense.

Oddly enough however, it was the defensive unit that was instrumental in the win over SMU, scoring twice, as junior linebackers Alex Hoffman-Ellis and Myron Beck each had interception returns for scores. One positive on this side of the football is forced turnovers, as the team has produced nine in the first three games.

Safeties Xavier Hicks and Chima Nwachukwu are tied for the team-lead in tackles with 20 stops apiece.

USC struggled offensively under the guidance of Aaron Corp, who was filling in for injured freshman QB Matt Barkley (shoulder) in Seattle. The Trojan offense suffered from three turnovers inside the Husky 30-yard line, and only amassed 110 passing yards (the fewest in the Carroll era).

The lack of success passing the football prompted Carroll to get out of his comfort zone and try to pound the ball, a gameplan that just didn't work.

"We tried to stay with the running game because we felt very confident. We weren't getting good results throwing the ball. So we wanted to see if in this game on that day we could win the game running the football, really. That felt like the right way to go. You know, to try to win it a little out of normal formula. We couldn't get enough going."

The team could have Barkley back under center for this game and that would be good, considering he is completing 60 percent of his passes on the year. The team still should be able to lean on a solid ground game that is generating 236.7 yards per game. Tailback Joe McKnight has been outstanding in the early going, averaging 7.4 yards per carry and 101.7 yards per game. Stafon Johnson (5.2 ypc, team-high four TDs) must also be accounted for.

Downfield, it is wideout Damian Williams (11 receptions, for 158 yards) who is the go-to-guy.

Not only was the offense missing its leader, but the USC defense was missing its heart-and-soul against Washington, as All-American safety Taylor Mays sat out the game with a knee sprain. Still, the unit has not performed up to its potential, especially in the turnover department, where USC has just three takeaways.

Still, there is reason for some optimism with this unit. A completely new linebacking corps has found a new star in sophomore Chris Gallipo, who can be found all over the field making plays. He currently leads USC in tackles (22), with four TFLs, one INT and one forced fumble. Fellow LB Michael Morgan is a distant second at 15 total stops, but leads the team with six TFLs. The playmaker up front is freshman rush end Nick Perry, who is responsible for four of the team's 10 sacks thus far.

The Trojans have dropped five Pac-10 road openers in Carroll's nine years in charge, but that hasn't prevented the team from winning the conference crown on most occasions. The Cougars simply lack the personnel to hang a second straight loss on USC, which should get up early and run away with this one.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: USC 42, Washington State 10