RUSSELL WILSON of the Seattle Seahawks (Wikipedia/Larry Maurer).

Pros: Are the Rams really for real?

Now, things are getting serious. The Los Angeles Rams (3-1) are atop the NFC West and will host the second place Seattle Seahawks (2-2) at the Coliseum on Sunday. It looks like a great matchup: Russell Wilson vs. Jared Goff and the former USC coach back in his old stadium. Let’s hope the stands are full for this one.

On other hand, the Los Angeles Chargers have an even more desperate mission. After a 0-4 start, the Bolts need a win in New Jersey against the New York Giants (0-4) or risk disappearing from the Southern California sports conversation. To put it another way, without a win on Sunday, the Chargers will lose the “Battle for L.A.”

Colleges: SoCal needs to do better

USC: Trojans hope to bounce back having lost their Pac-12 opener. They’ll get their chance on Saturday against Oregon State (1-4).

UCLA: After a narrow win last week, the Bruins (3-2) have the week off. They’re next in action on Oct. 14 at Arizona.

Chapman University: The Panthers (1-2) hosts Whittier (0-3) on Saturday in another SCIAC contest.

Golden West College: The Rustlers (2-3) have the week off and are next in action on Oct. 14 at Saddleback.

High schools: Early league crucials

The pre-league season is over for nearly everyone in the Garden Grove-Huntington Beach-Westminster area, and conference play is starting this week. There are already some big games in first round action. Such as:

• 

  DYLAN DO of La Quinta. Aztecs face Garden Grove Thursday night (OC Tribune photo).

  Garden Grove (1-3) at La Quinta (5-0) at Bolsa Grande Stadium on Thursday. The defending champs – five times in a row – against a team unbeaten in five games. Is this the changing of the guard, or do the title-holders get a sixth title before they leave for the Golden West League next year? Our guess: Pretty close, but Aztecs playing good football now.

• Westminster (4-1) at Santa Ana (4-1) at Santa Ana Bowl on Friday. The Golden West League is blessed with five strong teams, and these are two of them. They’ll meet in a test of title contenders. The loser will have a mountain to climb. Our guess: This is Westminster’s season.
• Ocean View (4-1) at Segerstrom (4-1). These are the other two Golden West League title contenders, and they’ll help narrow down the title field at the Jaguars’ field. Our guess: Ocean View by a TD.

Other games planned for this weekend:

Thursday: Kennedy (2-3) at Pacifica (5-0) at Bolsa Grande Stadium; Edison (3-2) at Huntington Beach (1-4); Loara (2-3) at Orange (5-0) at Fred Kelly Stadium.

Friday: Rancho Alamitos (3-2) at Los Amigos (1-4) at Monsoor Stadium; Santiago (3-2) at Bolsa Grande (1-4); Fountain Valley (4-1) at Marina (3-2) at Cap Sheue Field.