Rose Bowl

[lufkin_82]

Who do you think will win the Rose Bowl? i personally have to go with Texas

[Slim-Rob]

UT, their defense is too good. Offense wins games Defense wins championships.

[jtk1519]

The offenses almost cancel each other out. We're talking about two of the best offenses college football has seen in years. The difference is that Texas has a better chance of slowing down USC just because the Horns have a much better defense.

[yankee]

UT, their defense is too good. Offense wins games Defense wins championships.
usc's defense played exceptional against ucla. gave up only 279 yards and most of that was the second string defense. but they played beyond their level vs. ucla. texas and vince young will prevail IF usc's defense plays like it has the games before ucla.

[TexasRed6x]

I have to go with Texas also because they have an offense that can kill you in many ways and a defense that is ranked like 6th in the nation(I am not sure just a guess) that is good on the run.

In order for Texas to win, they need to keep Reggie Bush from running crazy and shut down the receivers to stop Leinhart. They also need to let Vince Young be Vince Young let him go off.

[biki1121]

I'm gonna have to go with USC on this one. Offenses are not the same. Leinart, Bush, and White are extremely good and can control the game either on the ground or in the air. Young and company go directly with Young in this game. If USC gets pressure on Vince they force him into bad throws and scrambling. While Vince scrambling is a dangerous thing, USC has the best linebackers UT will have faced since the OU game. USC D-line doesn't get much credit but they are really good.

However, if USC doesn't get after Vince he will have some good numbers in passing. If USC has a weakness it is in the secondary. They are fine on the intitial coverage but don't cover well when the WRs start improvising to get open.

Offense- Edge to USC
Defense- Edge to Texas
Special teams- Even
Coaching- Edge to USC

[dragonfootballfan]

Offense- Edge to USC
Defense- Edge to Texas
Special teams- Even
Coaching- Edge to USC
I really dissagree with you on the special teams and coaching issue. Texas has more blocked kicks than anyone this year and all of their return teams are highly ranked, while Bush although he gets a lot of accolades for returns, he does not do a good job (ranked 100th and 40th in kick and punt return average). USC has not replaced their offensive coordinator from last year in Norm Chow. Texas on the other hand has last years broyles award winner (top assistant coach) Gene Chizik as their defensive coordinator and their offensive coordinator Greg Davis is a Broyles finalist this year. Carroll does have National Championship game experience so I think the teams should be even on coaching. I can agree with your offensive and defensive picks

[jtk1519]

Offense - slight edge to Texas (the Horns do have the #1 offense in the nation and have done that playing much better defenses)
Defense - edge to Texas
Special Teams - edge to Texas (only a fool would say otherwise)
Coaching - Even

[dragonfootballfan]

Offense - slight edge to Texas (the Horns do have the #1 offense in the nation and have done that playing much better defenses)

Fresno State has the fastest defense in the country and the biggest genious in all of football, Charlie Weis, had two weeks to prepare for the USC offense. Those are two teams that have 1232.32423890 times harder defenses than anyone Texas has played this year.;) ;)

[biki1121]

While Texas does have the blocks and some really good returns. USC excels in big game special teams. While the stats may not be there, they really do well when it counts. That's why I made it even.

Coaching! First Chizik is the man. I really like him and thought he should have been SFA's head coach. They really lost a good one when they had the chance.
And sorry, I'm not sold on Davis. I will however give him a nod for letting Vince play with what is comfortable to him. And Texas' linebacker coach doesn't get enough credit. As far as USC coaching, Carroll is THE man. His planning and attitude is just contagious to their team. And then he lets position coaches take care of the rest. Chow was a great loss but his replacement actually hasn't been bad. They have such a unity between their coaches and players that is phenomenal. It doesn't hurt when you have NFL guys in the program offering advise all the time as well.

But again, I see USC winning this game in a close one!

Funny thing is...... I would rather see Penn State and UT play. Kinda bored with USC. Need some new blood in the game!

[biki1121]

Offense - slight edge to Texas (the Horns do have the #1 offense in the nation and have done that playing much better defenses)
Defense - edge to Texas
Special Teams - edge to Texas (only a fool would say otherwise)
Coaching - Even


Go ask OU how good USC's special teams are in a big game.....

The "foolish" thing to do is discount Bush and his returns when the game is on the line. I do think over the season Texas has had much better special teams. But when the big game is on the line, no way in heck I punt or kick off to Reggie Bush.

But that's my opinion as a non-USC/non-UT fan.

And I still want to see UT/Penn! Now that would be a game!

[dragonfootballfan]

Go ask OU how good USC's special teams are in a big game.....

The "foolish" thing to do is discount Bush and his returns when the game is on the line. I do think over the season Texas has had much better special teams. But when the big game is on the line, no way in heck I punt or kick off to Reggie Bush.

But that's my opinion as a non-USC/non-UT fan.

And I still want to see UT/Penn! Now that would be a game!
so even though Texas has been better than USC is special teams all year long in this one game you just have a feeling that USC will have better special teams than Texas?

[jtk1519]

Go ask OU how good USC's special teams are in a big game.....

The "foolish" thing to do is discount Bush and his returns when the game is on the line. I do think over the season Texas has had much better special teams. But when the big game is on the line, no way in heck I punt or kick off to Reggie Bush.

But that's my opinion as a non-USC/non-UT fan.

And I still want to see UT/Penn! Now that would be a game!

Ramonce Taylor has proven himself to be a MUCH more dangerous return man than Bush so it seems to me like USC has more to worry about there.

[biki1121]

Nope, I'm saying that in a big game, when it counts, gotta get it done...... USC excels with Reggie Bush and company. I would take Bush over anyone else in the country on a kick or punt return, especially in the big game.

It's just my opinion. Take it as just another opinion.

[jtk1519]

Nope, I'm saying that in a big game, when it counts, gotta get it done...... USC excels with Reggie Bush and company. I would take Bush over anyone else in the country on a kick or punt return, especially in the big game.

It's just my opinion. Take it as just another opinion.

Which "big game" are you talking about? Was it the Arizona State game where he had 1 return for 18 yards, or was it the Notre Dame game where he barely averaged 14 yards a return. Hell, even in the Fresno State game where he had 7 freakin' returns, he couldnt even manage 20 yards a return. Just curious.

[Texasfrog]

Which "big game" are you talking about? Was it the Arizona State game where he had 1 return for 18 yards, or was it the Notre Dame game where he barely averaged 14 yards a return. Hell, even in the Fresno State game where he had 7 freakin' returns, he couldnt even manage 20 yards a return. Just curious.

Dont talk logic with some of these dudes. They buy into the hype more then anything !!!

[DawgDave]

Fresno State has the fastest defense in the country?
What a joke. Fresno State, after giving USC all they could handle, managed to lose the following week to that powerhouse Nevada, then on Friday night dropped another one to mighty LA Tech.

[dragons08]

UT wins this game late in the 4th q

[dragonfootballfan]

Fresno State has the fastest defense in the country?
What a joke. Fresno State, after giving USC all they could handle, managed to lose the following week to that powerhouse Nevada, then on Friday night dropped another one to mighty LA Tech.
I am saying that because that is what USC coaches, players and all of the media were saying after their game

[jtk1519]

Pete Carroll called Fresno State a top 10 team for sure and one of the O-linemen called Fresno State the second best team in the country. I could not agree more.

[DawgDave]

If Fresno State is the 2nd best team in the country then I guess Nevada and LA Tech are #'s 1.25 and 1.5.
What do you expect a coach to say after his team almost was upset by a mediocre team?

[biki1121]

Dont talk logic with some of these dudes. They buy into the hype more then anything !!!

Fine, lets talk "logic".

Texas fans claim they have the #1 offense in the country.

Well lets break that down.

Total Offense leaders

USC #1 Texas #3

Rushing Offense leaders

Texas #3 USC #4

Passing Offense leaders

USC #5 Texas #42

Scoring leaders.

Texas #1 USC #2 with a 0.9 ppg difference

Statistically they are fairly close except Passing where Texas is no where close to USC. So using the logic given per above. USC must have a better offense than Texas. But I bet most of you don't feel that way.

So let us go back to special teams.

Statistically, Texas has an advantage so that must mean Texas has a better special teams group. So JTK, I will concede that Texas has a better special teams group if you concede that USC has a better offense. Deal?

Or is that not logical????

[dragonfootballfan]

Statistically they are fairly close except Passing where Texas is no where close to USC. So using the logic given per above. USC must have a better offense than Texas. But I bet most of you don't feel that way.

So let us go back to special teams.

Statistically, Texas has an advantage so that must mean Texas has a better special teams group. So JTK, I will concede that Texas has a better special teams group if you concede that USC has a better offense. Deal?

Or is that not logical????
Is the point of offense to gain yards or score points? Last I saw Texas has scored more points per game than USC.

[biki1121]

Nope, the points that matter are the ones that win the game. I do expect this to be a close game, much better than last year. I just think USC wins in a close one. I know as UT fans ya'll don't agree with me and that is fine.

[dragonfootballfan]

Nope, the points that matter are the ones that win the game. I do expect this to be a close game, much better than last year. I just think USC wins in a close one. I know as UT fans ya'll don't agree with me and that is fine.
so you are telling me that an offense does not try and score points? I don't understand.

[dragonfootballfan]

This is how I see the game going down. I think that the game is tied the whole time when USC kicks a field goal with 2 minutes remaining to put them up by three. Texas drives down to the one yard line with two seconds left. When Texas elects to go for the win and tries to sneak it into the endzone. Ramonce Taylor pushes Vince into the endzone and Texas wins the game.

After the game, the Coaches who must give the BCS championship to the winner of that game give Texas the trophy, but the press says that the touchdown scored by Vince was illegal and USC will be awarded their third straight press national championship.

[biki1121]

My point is that fans use stats as a measuring stick. If you look at the total offensive statistics and average the rankings, USC is clearly the #1 team in the country and that kills UT fans. Some dismiss this fact and point to points scored. But they then argue other "statistical" facts like defense. Nevermind that USC's schedule has more "prolific" offenses than UT's but that doesn't matter because the stats show Texas is better on defense.....

Special teams is a good example of this. Overall statistics are around top 30. But it doesn't take into account "keep away" kicking, clutch punting, ect....
USC is 10 for 11 in FGs and they have only missed a few PATs with a good punting average. But statistically they aren't that great.....


My points about scoring is the only one that truly matters is if you score one more than your opponent.

So what we have is 2 GREAT teams playing for the national championsip. I think USC wins a close one and you think UT wins a close one. Should be a heck of a game!

[biki1121]

Before I get called out on prolific, here is the passing Offenses

UT has faced

#1 Texas Tech
#43 Colorado twice
#65 Missouri
#68 Ohio St
#75 Baylor
#76 A&M
#93 Kansas
#97 Oklahoma
#98 Oklahoma State
#110 Louisiana La
#117 Rice

Now let's look at USC

#2, Hawaii
#3 ASU
#4 Notre Dame
#7 Oregon
#18 UCLA
#21 Wazzu
#24 Fresno State
#47 Zona
#52 Stanford
#55 Washington
#90 Cal
#107 Arkansas

see what I mean about prolific.......

[dragonfootballfan]

Before I get called out on prolific, here is the passing Offenses

I guess passing is all that matters on offense.

[biki1121]

Nope, passing is not all that matters.

Defensive rankings

Total D

Texas #6 at 280 ypg USC #39 at 344 ypg

Rushing D

USC #24 at 117 ypg Texas #30 at 124 ypg

Passing D

Texas #2 w/rating of 91 USC #39 w/rating of 117

Takeaways/Turnovers

USC #1 w/ avg of 1.83 Texas #30 w/ avg of 0.5


UT has faced better rushing teams than USC. USC has faced MUCH better passing teams. USC is by far the most balanced attack that UT will see this year.


Again, 2 GREAT teams........

But I suspect that no matter what I type you won't be happy nor do I expect you too. It has been a fine discussion however!

Good luck to both teams!

[DragonDomer]

I would say USC by a touchdown. Texas has no answer for Reggie Bush. USC's defense is just good enough in big games to let their offense win the game. I don't think that will be different in this game, especially seeing as how it is almost a home game.

[theloneranger]

Who do you think will win the Rose Bowl? i personally have to go with Texas
Sorry Lufkin.....but im goin to have to say USC BABY!!!!!!! Go Trojans!!!! Texas is good and going to be one hell of a shoot out but give it for REGGIE BUSH.:eek: He can put the same amount of yards on the ground as YOUNG can throwing the ball. It a lot easier racking up the yards throwing the ball then running..:D USC all the WAY!!!!

[FairCat]

I think Texas is going to win first off compare the USCvs ND game (damn refs likes USC more) Texas has a way better defense than ND does if Texas plays like ND did and really goes agaisnt USC defense and Keeps USC offense off the feild i see them coming off with the WIn
Just run down the clock while scoring

[theloneranger]

I think Texas is going to win first off compare the USCvs ND game (damn refs likes USC more) Texas has a way better defense than ND does if Texas plays like ND did and really goes agaisnt USC defense and Keeps USC offense off the feild i see them coming off with the WIn
Just run down the clock while scoring
There might be little problem with that neither one of these teams have a ball control kinda offense......It going to high Scoring game But I like REGGIE oh :eek: I mean USC in this one