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Quick question: Who’s better, Maurice Jones-Drew or Reggie Bush?

If you answered Reggie Bush, you’re wrong.

Well, “better” may be a little too vague. But if you add the qualifying “statistically better in the NFL,” there’s no doubt about it.

And I couldn’t be more satisfied.

When things aren’t the happiest in Westwood – and let’s just admit it, right now they’re not (I’m speaking primarily about the football team’s four straight losses) – I’ve been turning to Bruins in the professional ranks for some sense of vindication.

The Jones-Drew vs. Bush comparison is an especially fun game to play.

It was fun to play last year too, but only until UCLA lost to USC and Bush went on to win the Heisman Trophy.

But that was then and this is now, and Jones-Drew has simply had an easier time proving he can hang with the big boys.

So, without further ado, let’s play a matching game.

One of these two players has scored five touchdowns, averages 4.6 yards per carry and 9.4 yards per catch. This player’s longest rush is 40 yards.

The other player has scored one touchdown, averages 2.6 yards per carry and 6.8 yards per catch. This player’s longest rush is 18 yards.

One of these players was taken 60th in the NFL Draft, the other was taken second.

So who’s who?

Jones-Drew, of course, is the owner of the first set of statistics, Bush the second. And that should make any Bruin fan happy, especially considering the ridiculous hype that has surrounded Bush for too many years.

Sure, Bush’s New Orleans Saints are 6-2, but Jones-Drew’s Jacksonville Jaguars are 5-3. Sure, Bush splits carries with Deuce McAllister, but Jones-Drew splits carries with Fred Taylor. So who’s better?

That’s what I thought.

Bush just hasn’t been that good in the NFL, and while his former teammate Matt Leinart has shown flashes of adequacy, the Arizona Cardinals are mired in the cellar at 1-7, a record that includes losses to the Raiders and the Packers.

Relegation, anyone?

Meanwhile, Bruin fans have the luxury of expanding their sense of pride to a venue that Trojan fans wouldn’t dare – namely, the NBA.

Three players from last year’s NCAA runner-up team are currently on NBA rosters, with two already making significant contributions.

Jordan Farmar is averaging 17.4 minutes and 6.2 points per game for the Lakers, while Cedric Bozeman, who went undrafted, made the Atlanta Hawks’ roster and has played at least 10 minutes in the Hawks’ last three games, all wins.

If that’s not a feel-good story, I don’t know what is.

Of USC’s basketball “stars” from last season, one, Gabe Pruitt, is currently academically ineligible, while the other, Nick Young, is probably regretting his decision to stick around.

So if you’re ever feeling down, remind yourself of the T-shirt: My two favorite teams are UCLA and whoever is playing USC.

So simple, yet so profound.

And so unquestionably true.

Anything negative towards USC becomes a positive for UCLA, and as the negatives pile up, a very real smile comes across one’s face.

Take USC’s loss to Oregon State, for example. I was at Santa Anita Race Track on that fine Saturday, playing the ponies with my parents and grandparents. But I wasn’t really playing the ponies. I was watching USC get clobbered for three quarters, only to come nearly all the way back before losing in heartbreaking fashion right at the end.

It was great, and even UCLA’s dismal performance against Washington State couldn’t come close to ruining it.

The problem, of course, with rooting against USC in football is that the Trojans just don’t lose that much.

That’s why it’s often necessary to expand one’s scope and look other places for satisfying sports news, always keeping in mind the UCLA-USC link.

So look to Jones-Drew, Farmar and Bozeman – great Bruins doing great things.

And don’t forget Bush and Leinart. They suck.

Regan faces a team with Bush in fantasy football this week. E-mail him at dregan@media.ucla.edu.