Rose Bowl: USC vs. Texas

[kingfc22]

Let the smack talk begin...

[Easy Mac]

USC by 24

[Easy Mac]

dola, and if anyone wants to make a bet, the loser has to grow an Adam Morrison mustache.

[st.cronin]

USC by 24

Sounds about right.

[IMetTrentGreen]

reggie bush will run for about 750. texas' linebackers are slow as all get out. the final score might be 80-77.

i have no idea who will win, but my feeling is texas, since i think they're defense matches up better with usc's offense than the other way around, unless lienart starts running the option. the only thing that i legitimately worry about is bush bouncing something. texas doesn'tr have the speed to deal with that unless huff shadows him, and i dont think chizik does it

i can't wait for this game

[Cuckoo]

I can't imagine this not being a good game, but then again, I said the same thing last year with USC/OU. From what I've seen, Texas is better all around than OU was last year. USC's offense is better than it was last year, but their defense (despite a nice game against UCLA) is worse.

I think it'll be fairly high scoring with more turnovers than either team would prefer. But I say that Texas pulls it out by anywhere from 3-7 points.

[Eaglesfan27]

I think it will be a high scoring affair with USC pulling it out by a bit. I'll wait until the injury picture is clear before the game, but if I had to predict today, I would say USC with 52 points to beat Texas who scores about 45.

[Karlifornia]

Some weird things can happen during that month off. Offenses can come out real tight in Bowl Games, despite what happened last year. I'm going to say a little less scoring than expected...say USC 38, Texas 27

[GrantDawg]

I think it will be a high scoring affair with USC pulling it out by a bit. I'll wait until the injury picture is clear before the game, but if I had to predict today, I would say USC with 52 points to beat Texas who scores about 45.
Two offensive jugernaughts meet. This has every potential to be a 17-10 game.

[cartman]

Let the smack talk begin...

ok, here goes...

You can't spell "sucks" without USC

You can't spell "suck it" without UT

:D

[HerRealName]

My initial thought is that I would take Texas if this game was taking place at any of the other 3 BCS bowl sites. I'm leaning slightly towards USC in the Rose Bowl though.

[NoMyths]

I'm thinking Texas, sadly. USC's defense is suspect enough to give up some major yards if Young is on, while I expect Texas' D to focus on Bush and force Leinart to beat them. I'm thinking he'll be tight early, and start rolling late when given turf.

Texas 27, USC 24

[IMetTrentGreen]

thats not how the texas defense works. they will almost always surrender yardage on the ground and not let a team move through the air. i don't think texas has started a game with 8 in the box, and even when a team like osu and a&m was gashing them, it took forever for adjustments to be made

the upside is that the pass defense has been awesome, and any team that wants to score has to move slowly down the field. the downside is, if we can't control the run with 7 in the box, which has been the case against any team with speed to get outside the slow texas lb's (gulp), chizik will just let them march down the field

its worked so far, the problem is if there is one team that can consistently take short gains and beate you it's usc. the texas secondary is so good that i would just put huff on bush and tell him to do what he does and let everyone else play man. usc is going to score no matter what, but this way i think texas can limit them enough to outscore them

the key to the game will be how often texas can get usc into thrid downs and how well they do during them. we'll see plenty of 3rd and shorts, because texas just doesn't have the speed to stop bush, but has the bulk to stop white and the pass rush/secondary to limit leinhart

im thinking somewhere in the 38-34 range, although i'll decline to name a winner for now

[NoMyths]

If I'm reading your post right, then that's exactly how Texas' D works: force Leinart to make plays through the air, as they'll be focusing on Bush on the ground.

If you think USC will get 30+, then you've got your winner.

[MrBug708]

USC will probably score in the 40's. UCLA's offense is hella better then Colorado's is and UCLA was just destroyed by USC's Dline.

Of course, USC's OL outweighted UCLA's DL on average by 50 pounds and 3 inches

[Airhog]

Since I like neither team, I am hoping that a giant asteroid hits the earth 4 minutes before kickoff, thereby preventing either team from winning a national championship :D

[IMetTrentGreen]

If I'm reading your post right, then that's exactly how Texas' D works: force Leinart to make plays through the air, as they'll be focusing on Bush on the ground.

you aren't. i must have misspoke someplace. texas keeps both its safties back for as long as they possibly can. gene chizik has no interest in putting 8 up and forcing the qb to beat them, even when we play teams like ou, ok state, and a&m that went maybe a combined 7-100 through the air

texas can put up 50, easy. that would be an average game. the last 6 of the year, they held back vince's running because our backup sucks and nobody was any good. they turned him loose saturday, but didn't end up needing it. when you add his running back into the equation, the fact that he's the nations top rated passer (look it up), and anyone that gets the ball outside of the tight end can take it to the house makes it nearly impossible to keep it under 40. only osu accomplished that, and i'll shit a birck is usc's defense is better than theirs

unless usc gets a lot of guys back from injury, texas should get 50. i expect it. the question is if they can stop usc from grinding out long scores, which im not sure they can do. the texas defensive front isn't fast when its fresh, imagine when it isn't

should be a great game

[IMetTrentGreen]

USC will probably score in the 40's. UCLA's offense is hella better then Colorado's is and UCLA was just destroyed by USC's Dline.

i don't know why im wasting time with you, but . . .

usc won't score that high, because they won't score quick td's. all their points will come from long drives, the clock eating type. they may score every time but if they do, the game will be too short to get that high

and texas has the best ol in the country. in fact, the ten guys on the field jan. 4 on both sides might all be in the top 20. im not overly worried about pass rush, although blowing up all the zone blocking with their slants is an issue

[Havok]

USC 48 Texas 31

[Karlifornia]

UCLA's offense is hella better


My, how Californian of you. :)

[streetballer22]

I have to go with USC because they have shown the ability to win the close ones. Texas has looked damn good though, there is no way that the over/under should be anything lower than 70.

[Chubby]

USC 49 Texas 24

It's going to be a rout at halftime.

[st.cronin]

Two years ago, everybody was impressed with the way Oklahoma manhandled the Big 12, and predicted a Sooner title.

Last year, everybody was impressed with the Oklahoma manhandled the Big 12, and predicted a Sooner title.

This year, you all are soooooooo impressed with the way Texas has manhandled the Big 12, and are predicting a Longhorn title. Who was the *best* team Texas played this year? I guess Ohio State ... a team nobody seriously suggests is comparable to USC. It took everything Texas had to beat the Buckeyes.

I just don't see this as anything other than an easy win for USC.

[Cuckoo]

While I agree in general to your reservations about the Big 12, st. cronin, it is necessary to note that OU was not predicted to win either title, I believe. After losing big to KSU in the Championship, LSU was favored two years ago. Last year, USC was the favorite.

It is true, however, that the Big 12 overall is very mediocre this year. But I still think Texas makes it a game, regardless of who wins.