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(unofficial) Rose Bowl thread - USC vs. Texas (merged)

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TSKCoug said:
Texas is a great team no doubt, but I think that come the late third quarter some big breaks will go USCs way and the whipping will begin!

USC 38 Texas 17
Click to expand...

This would be different than almost every game this season, as the breaks have been going Texas' way for the most part.


As for my longwinded rambling early prediction:

Gene Chizik will have some great prep time, and he has only had to use his complete defensive scheme against tOSU, early in Oklahoma, and late in CU to get them warmed up. After the shot to Klatt's jaw in the Big XII ship, we continued to put pressure on through blitzing, almost as if it was warm up for the Rose Bowl. Leinart will get hit, he is not exactly a statue, but our main problems have come against more mobile QBs. I think that our DLine will be stuffing the middle, and our young LBs will be closing the outside, you might even see more of Kelson on the outside if he steps it up and gets out of the doghouse. If Killebrew, Harris or Bobino get a shot at Leinart, they are goint to make him hurt. Our DBs are very strong tacklers, which hopefully cause Bush to lose yardage on some of his dancing behind the line of scrimmage plays.

All that being said, I don't think that our team has been truly challenged by a vertical passing team all year. Tech is more of an under and out type of offense. Leaving tOSU as probably the best passing team that we played. USCs two WRs and TE are monsters, and it will be intresting to see how we can defend against them. I expect to see USC throw the ball a ton. It will be very interesting to see how we use Huff in this game, as we would definitely want him to be around to tackle Bush in the open field, but we would also love for him to cover Jarrett or Smith.

As for USCs defense, I feel like they stepped up a bit against UCLA, but they have played like crap on several occasions. If they give Texas the chances that they gave fresno and other teams this year, we will hang over 50 on them, and they will not score 50 on us.

Lastly (for now) special teams: ever since the first couple of weeks, we have been closing down returns. And we will proably be as cautious kicking to Bush as we were to Ginn and Holmes, but if we give USC the ball where we gave tOSU the ball, then we will be in trouble. Texas has been flat out amazing in blocking kicks this season, and if we get a block in this game, then we will have yet another advantage. Robison on Kick blocks is sick, he has a tremendous vertical and his arm and hand are so damn wide it makes it impossible to kick the ball straight. however, as USC showed on Saturday, they don't really like to kick FGs, so this might not come into play.

My early prediction is 38 - 28 Texas wins, but I am biased, and i am about to drop $2000 on a trip to Pasadena, so I may be skewed a bit. I don't know how I am going to contain myself and sit still for the next month while I anticipate this game........
 
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After watching (and enjoying) another college football season (NFL doesn't come close) I think the MNC game will be decided at the line. Having played the Buckeyes, I know Texas can handle it. Not sure about USC. I have a feeling that if Texas d-line dissrupts USC's o-line, that the pressure of the situation could cause a blowout.

Early pic:
UT 38
USC 24

But could see:
UT 45
USC 17
 
Upvote 0
But could see:
UT 45
USC 17
Click to expand...

abc_sports-dan_fouts.jpg


"Bad call, BAD CALL!!!"
"The Horns can't begin to compete with SC - Men of Troy romp 45-6"

/fouts

hehe - I like the Horns in this matchup, but don't think it's gonna be a barn burner.

Tejas 24
SoCal 17
 
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I respect what both teams have accomplished but I think Texas wins. There are two scenarios.

If Texas cannot reasonably contain the run, then I think this will be close game with Texas winning by a touchdown, in a game with a winning score in the mid-30's.

If Texas defense can reasonably contain the run, then I think this could look a lot like USC versus Oklahoma last year, with Texas on the upside.
 
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I don't see this game being close. As powerful as UT's offense is, it's still run-oriented and catches the D by surprise with occasional playaction passes down the middle to their TEs and tall WRs. Thats how they played OSU and thats how they are going to play SC. I believe SC will be able to shutdown that running game, the same way they shutdown Adrian Peterson last year. Cushing and co are just beasts and their DL is very physical. In the end, all the pressure is going to be on Young's shoulders and I don't think any player playing the game has the ability to single-handedly beat SC.

On the other side of the ball, SC's offense will overmatch a good but not spectacular UT defense. UT does not have any CBs that can matchup with Jarrett, and its DL is not strong enough to slow down White and Bush. Just a gut feeling but I think SC will win by at least two TDs.
 
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Another thought to consider is the fact that SC's players have been there and done that. They played another undefeated Big 12 team that was considered balanced and untouchable and beat them down. I hate to say it, but there is something about the SC's players that nobody else has right now: they thrive for playing in the big games.
 
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