The Week

1. Texas A&M (8-2)
2. Houston (8-2)
3. Baylor (7-3)

WEST

Southern California was acting like anything but a 14-point favorite over UCLA last week as it sought a third straight Pacific Eight championship and its 25th consecutive game without a conference loss. Coach John McKay was irritable, Running Back Anthony Davis couldn't sleep and mascot Tommy Trojan was nowhere to be seen.

The concern was unfounded, however, as USC romped to a 34-9 victory. "That's a mighty impressive football team," said Bruin Coach Dick Vermeil afterward. "They were just too good for us. If we'd played our best game, they'd still beat us."

Davis was the offensive star, gaining 195 yards in 31 carries and scoring a touchdown. He surpassed O.J. Simpson's team and conference career rushing mark of 3,423 yards on his first carry. " Davis runs with a lot of character," said Vermeil. "He doesn't spend much time going sideways."

California is still trying to figure out how it lost to Stanford. Steve Bartkowski's 13-yard pass to Steve Rivera had given the Bears a 20-19 lead with 26 seconds left, but after Stanford received the kickoff, Quarterback Guy Benjamin went to work against the least effective of all strategies: the prevent defense. Two completions gained 43 yards, and as the clock ran out Mike Langford kicked a 50-yard field goal for a 22-20 victory.

In other intrastate rivalries, Washington won the Apple Trophy by topping Washington State 24-17, and Oregon got the raspberry by blowing a 10-0 lead and losing 35-16 to Oregon State.

Utah State captured the Beehive Boot for the fourth straight year with a 20-7 triumph over Weber State. Brigham Young won the Western Athletic Conference title and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl by bombing Utah 48-20.

Arizona and Arizona State both posted narrow wins in the late moments. The Wildcats edged Wyoming 21-14 on Bruce Hill's 11-yard pass to Theopolis Bell with 1:18 left. Arizona State overcame a 21-0 halftime deficit to nip Colorado State 26-21 when Morris Owens scurried in from the eight with 45 seconds remaining.

1. USC (8-1-1)
2. Arizona (8-2)
3. California (7-3-1)