The Bruins and Trojans both started new winning streaks this past weekend, but all it would have taken was for either Washington or Arizona State to score in their final possession in their respective games to completely shatter the postseason hopes for UCLA and USC.

In a helter-skelter season that has become Southern Cal football, it has been difficult to predict which team would show up in Tempe last Saturday – the one that pummeled past five of its first six opponents, or the one who could barely stop its last three. Oddly, it was a little bit of both against Arizona State.

The offense did not do any pummeling in scoring 14 points, but the defense definitely did their part in stopping the Sun Devils, forcing four turnovers and limiting them to just nine points. Matt Barkley completed just seven of 22 passes for 112 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while the rushing tandem of Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford amassed 78 and 67 yards, respectively.

Yet, despite the weak offensive showing, USC (7-2, 4-2) remained Rose Bowl-eligible after Pac-10 leader Oregon (7-2, 5-1) lost to Stanford. If USC runs the tables and Oregon loses at least two of its final three games, the No. 9 Trojans may still qualify for the Granddaddy of Them All on Jan. 1. USC hosts No. 25 Stanford Cardinal (6-3, 5-2) at the Coliseum on Saturday.

Meanwhile, UCLA finally won a Pac-10 game, with the Bruins (4-5, 1-5) defeating Washington, 24-23, at the Rose Bowl on Saturday afternoon – and all it took was the two Kevins. UCLA went into halftime trailing 16-14 behind 212 yards by Kevin Prince, but a helmet-to-helmet hit took him out of the game. Kevin Craft completed 10 of 14 passes for 159 yards in the second half to lead the Bruins to victory.

The Bruins need to win at least two more games to be bowl eligible – and probably would have been completely out of postseason consideration had they lost to the Huskies. UCLA heads to Pullman, Wash. to face the 0-6, 1-8 Cougars on Saturday.