A DEVIL OF A TEST FOR BOOTY USC QB, OFFENSE LOOK TO GET GOING.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF  Staff Writer

USC quarterback John David Booty follows the 24-hour rule on his performances, forgetting the good and bad with equal speed.

``I do think about it on Sunday,'' Booty said. ``I don't on Monday.''

Booty might be better served to institute a two-week rule, which harkens back to his best effort and forget last week's clunker against Washington.

``I hope just for the offense, it's a breakout game,'' Booty said. ``I want to have a big game. I know it wasn't my best game last week.''

Because of the nature of the position, Booty is always the focal point of USC's offense, no matter how much the No.3-ranked Trojans might really miss tailback Reggie Bush more than quarterback Matt Leinart.

``He's got some good things to learn from the last game,'' offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said of Booty, who can show if he learned his lesson during today's game against Arizona State at the Coliseum.

``He didn't have some weapons he's used to having, so it was a real learning experience for him,'' Kiffin said.

Booty's arsenal should be fully stocked today, as All-American wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett returns full-time and said he believes he can play 80 percent of the game. Booty also gets wide receiver Steve Smith back this week, after Smith missed most of the second half against Washington with a sprained ankle.

No matter who plays, Booty seems to lock in on a favorite target. Jarrett caught 11 passes against Nebraska, Smith caught 11 against Washington State and sophomore Patrick Turner caught 12 against Washington.

It's the first time in the history of USC football three different receivers caught at least 11passes in a single games.

``That's crazy, no one even told me about that,'' Turner said. ``I had no idea.''

Booty said it was also crazy, but for different reasons.

``I know it's going to be crazy now, if we get all three of them out there at the same time, it will be something to see,'' Booty said.

Whatever the reasons for Booty's problems last week, the Trojans remain undefeated (5-0, 3-0), and it beats the alternative on the other sideline facing Arizona State (3-2, 0-2).

Former Westlake High star Rudy Carpenter completed six of 19 passes for 33 yards in a 48-13 loss against Oregon on Sept. 30.

Carpenter also has nine interceptions, which nearly equals his touchdown output (11).

``That's a rough patch for a guy that's a top guy in the country,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said of Carpenter. ``The way I look at it, and I'm sure (Arizona State coach) Dirk Koetter looks at too, they're just one game from getting back on track again. It just can't be this week.''

Koetter was so impressed with Carpenter that he named him the starter in training camp, which prompted previous starter Sam Keller to transfer to Nebraska.

Koetter was confident the Sun Devils would pass well this season and struggle with the run, but the opposite is true.

``It is very bizarre,'' Koetter said. ``We've been a tremendous passing team for the last five years, but we haven't been able to run it very good. Now we're running the ball pretty decently but we can't throw it a lick. It's a very bizarre situation.''

History is also against Koetter's team today. The coach is 2-18 against ranked teams and has never defeated Carroll. His Pacific-10 Conference record is 17-25, but his contract was extended after last season through 2009.

``Mainly, our trouble is turnovers,'' Koetter said. ``We're a minus-4 and USC is plus-four.''

Even with the Sun Devils struggling, Booty expects Arizona State to be a problem, perhaps because USC has not blown anyone out since the season-opener against Arkansas.

It's easy to see why: The Trojans scored more than 30 points in all 13 games last season but have done so just once this season.

``Everybody plays us so tough,'' Booty said. ``We're thinking now that every game the other team comes out and guns for us. We have to expect that.''

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