TROJANS KNOW BETTER THAN TO THINK THEY'LL HAVE IT EASY.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

USC freshman center Jeff Byers doesn't know what it feels like to lose. He doesn't even know what it means to be anything besides the nation's top-ranked team since the Trojans have sat atop the top 25 polls in his brief six-game career.

``It still doesn't feel like it's for real. It doesn't feel like we have a burden,'' Byers said. ``You wouldn't think being No. 1 would be fun, but it is around here. I'm not sure what it feels like to be 10th or 15th. This feels normal to be No. 1.''

USC hit the midway point of its season this week with a perfect record (6-0) and the added bouquet of being No. 1 in the first Bowl Championship Series rankings. Back-to-back victories over top 15 teams adds to the sense of inevitability and makes one wonder if anyone left on the Trojans' schedule can ruin their season.

The schedule certainly seems to get easier. Three of USC's six wins are over teams in the Associated Press top 25 poll (Virginia Tech, California, Arizona State), and the Trojans' first six opponents entered their games with a cumulative 11-2 record, with four teams undefeated.

Now consider the final six games, where the opponents are currently 16-21 and only two of those teams have a winning record.

``If they're going to be bad, then we need to beat them bad,'' tailback LenDale White said.

USC promises not to take teams lightly, but who doesn't?

``It's all the cliches,'' linebacker Matt Grootegoed said. ``Those teams will play hard against us, so I'm going to play hard.''

But can anyone pull off an upset?

The quick answer is ``of course.'' But it probably isn't likely until the final two weeks - especially if you consider USC coach Pete Carroll's history.

In Carroll's three seasons, the Trojans are 16-1 in the second half of the regular season, the only loss coming at Notre Dame his first year. Carroll was only 11-7 in the first half, so each of his teams has gotten stronger as the season progressed.

``I love that aspect of our program,'' Carroll said. ``You can't look toward what could happen toward the end of the season. You have to stay right in there as far as I'm concerned. Finishing strong is something I take great pride in.''

The remaining six games can be divided into three categories.

The Awful Games: Washington, Arizona.

USC plays the two worst teams in the Pac-10 at home and is a 34-point favorite against the Huskies on Saturday.

``No team lays down because a guy in Indiana gives you a point spread,'' USC guard John Drake said.

If Washington loses, it will have its first losing season since 1976. Arizona is experiencing a transition under first-year coach Mike Stoops.

The Road Games: Washington State, Oregon State.

These would ordinarily be real obstacles in the Pacific-10 Conference but on paper are far cushier matchups than a year ago. Washington State (3-3, 1-2) just lost quarterback Josh Swogger (broken foot) for the season and will use redshirt freshman Alex Brink next week against the Trojans.

Oregon State (2-4, 1-2) never recovered from its season-opening loss to LSU and was routed by California (49-7) in Corvallis.

``The .500 teams are the biggest threat,'' Byers said. ``I feel like maybe the good teams aren't always better.''

The Rivalry Games: Notre Dame, UCLA.

This is where USC's schedule becomes interesting. The No. 24 Irish are 5-2 and must have some anger over back-to-back 31-point losses to the Trojans. Barring a collapse, they should still be ranked in the top 25 by the time they visit Los Angeles on Nov. 27.

A week later, the Trojans travel to face the Bruins (4-2, 2-1), who also have plenty of motivation with five consecutive losses in the crosstown series.

``There is no such thing as a 'should win' or 'sure win,' '' Drake said. ``Wins and losses are important, but the core reason for playing is pride.

``I don't buy someone saying we have a clear path to the national championship. If there was a true path, everyone would take it.''

Grootegoed said he has got added incentive as a senior because he knows his career is down to its final seven games.

``This is the last time I'm wearing this uniform. I want to make it special,'' he said. ``Last year we had a great team. This year, we have the ability to be a great team.''

Byers doesn't think people should start thinking about the second half of the season yet because there are too many games left where USC could potentially slip up.

``Seven games is a lot of football. That's almost as long as a high school season,'' he said.

Whatever happens the rest of the season, at least Byers is finally over his sense of awe of practicing with his teammates.

``On my recruiting visit, I went, 'Wow,' when I saw how big these guys were,'' he said. ``Now they seem normal.''

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com