SUN BOWL

TCU OFFENSE

The Horned Frogs don’t have a solid quarterback. Patrick Batteaux, the starter much of the season, was an extremely ineffective passer, averaging only 52 yards a game, and Jeff Dover, his replacement, averaged only 71 yards a game and threw three interceptions in his first start against Tulsa. TCU relies on a unique running game, with tailbacks Basil Mitchell and LaDanian Tomlinson deciding between themselves who will enter the game when. Mitchell has rushed for 1,111 yards, making him only the third 1,000-yard rusher in TCU history, and Tomlinson has 717.

TCU DEFENSE

This is the strength of the team, but TCU has allowed everywhere from seven points in a game to 42, with the season-high coming in a loss to Colorado State. The Horned Frogs live and die in the fourth quarter. Nine of their 11 games were decided in the fourth. One of the more painful losses was to Oklahoma, in a game TCU led, 9-0, with 2 1/2 minutes left, but ended up losing, 10-9. With all the close games, observers say TCU could easily be 8-3--or just as easily, 3-8.

USC OFFENSE

The Trojans have a significant advantage, especially in the versatility of their offense. Freshman quarterback Carson Palmer has four starts under his belt and receiver R. Jay Soward should be at full strength after a slow finish that was partly the result of a severe ankle sprain. Tailback Chad Morton needs only 33 yards to become the first USC running back to reach 1,000 yards since Delon Washington in 1995--and only the third of the 1990s. Mazio Royster was the other, in 1990.

USC DEFENSE

USC showed what it can do to a team that isn’t much of a threat to pass against Notre Dame, shutting out an Irish offense that was limited almost entirely to a ground attack because of the ineffective passing of backup quarterbacks Eric Chappell and Arnaz Battle. By the time the Sun Bowl is played, linebacker Chris Claiborne may well be the winner of the Butkus Award. The announcement is Saturday in Orlando, and Claiborne is one of three finalists after a 107-tackle season with five sacks and six interceptions--two of which he returned for touchdowns.

OUTLOOK

The matchup is a dud, indirectly courtesy of the complicated web of bowl agreements. This is a long way from the USC-Nebraska Holiday Bowl game the Trojans wished for, and plenty far from a week in Hawaii. USC’s only challenge will be avoiding such an uninspired outing that Texas Christian has a chance to pull the sort of upset it did against a ranked Air Force team early this season. It’s still unlikely. USC should enjoy the bullfights, the weather, and a gift of a 9-4 record.