Rose Bowl (1-1)

[Cuck Flemson]

So.Cal vs. Illinois

[gamecockfandrew]

IDK with that spread. I would say So Cal by 17, but this one could be closer.

[papasmurf]

Date/Time: Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m. ET Site: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. Network: ABC
http://images.sportsline.com/images/collegebasketball/gamecenter/logos/USC.gif
USC

Offense: These aren't the Matt Leinart-Reggie Bush days, even when the Trojans are healthy, which they mostly became late in the season. This is more of an offense that relies on efficiency rather than scoring in bunches. The Trojans have scored more than 24 points just twice in the past eight games. The do have some balance, with QB John David Booty passing well down the stretch, Chauncey Washington leading the running game and Fred Davis doing his thing as possibly the best tight end in the country.
Defense: This unit rates with the best in the nation, ranking fourth in rush defense (79.17 yards per game), seventh in pass defense (179.67), second in total defense (258.83) and fourth in scoring (15.92). OK, all that said, what kind of offense gives USC the most trouble? Answer: Those with athletic, running quarterbacks who can make something out of nothing. Bowl opponent Illinois has one of those, sophomore Juice Williams.

http://images.sportsline.com/images/collegebasketball/gamecenter/logos/IL.gif
Illinois

Offense: If you caught Illinois' act during the opening two-thirds of the season, then you didn't see sophomore quarterback Juice Williams' emergence and the way the Illini offense really flies when he's clicking. He operates the spread option like a wizard with record-setting running back Rashard Mendenhall (1,526 yards and 16 TDs), who earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors, but Williams also has learned how to make defenses pay through the air when they bite on his play-action fakes. Illinois remains a run-first team, as its Big Ten-best 266.2 rushing yards per game indicates, but Williams' career-high four touchdown passes against Ohio State show what he can do with his rocket right arm.
Defense: Illinois' aggressive 4-3 sets are a fine blend of experienced seniors (four guys are in their third or fourth year in the starting lineup) and athletic youngsters. All-Big Ten middle linebacker J Leman, a Lott Trophy finalist, is the know-everything hub, but his numbers have dropped as his teammates' performances have risen. Junior defensive end Will Davis leads a multi-faceted pass rush that produced 37 sacks this year. Sophomore cornerback Vontae Davis (four interceptions) gets most of the accolades in the secondary, but safeties Kevin Mitchell (five interceptions) and Justin Harrison are seniors who live to make people pay for crossing the middle
http://sportsline.com/collegefootball/bowls/rose

Illinois http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/ncaa/sml/trans/356.gif 10.7% vs. 89.3% http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/ncaa/sml/trans/30.gif USC
http://games.espn.go.com/bowlmania/whopickedwhom

[papasmurf]

USC (10-2) vs. Illinois (9-3)

January 1st, 5:00 p.m. ET, ABC
USC will win if... it stops Williams and Mendenhall at the line. Illinois can't throw, and when the ground game doesn't work, things go south in a big hurry. Against Wisconsin, the Illini runners were able to work inside and out and always seemed to have the Badgers linemen leaning the wrong way, and the linebackers guessing wrong, on the way to 289 yards and three touchdowns. Against Ohio State, Williams and Mendenhall didn't break off any huge runs, but they consistently got past the line and into the second level with five-to-eight-yard runs that picked, picked, picked at the Buckeye defense for 260 yards. However, Michigan and Iowa, two team teams with excellent defensive lines, held their own and never let Williams get free to get the option going, Illinois quickly got frustrated, and the offense managed just 137 yards in both games, didn't get into the end zone against the Hawkeyes, and ran for just one score in the loss to the Wolverines. If USC's defensive line controls the action, this won't be pretty.
Illinois will win if... USC believes it's the USC of past seasons. Even when at full-strength to start the year, the offense was never anything special unless the line was playing at a high level with the passing game nothing special outside of TE Fred Davis. The Illinois defense has been solid ever since giving up 40 in the opener to Missouri, never allowing more than 27 points, and USC's offense simply isn't explosive enough to blow up for big scoring runs. USC isn't going to be able to dominate in the power running game like it was able to throughout the Pac 10 season.

While injuries played a major part throughout the year for the Trojans, they were mostly an issue on the offensive side. The defense had most of the key parts around all year long, and while the final stats are fantastic, there were some rough patches. Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart combined for 179 yards and three touchdowns in Oregon's win over the Trojans. Illinois should be able to follow the same blueprint, hope to connect on a few early passes to loosen things up, and pray for the running game to be good enough to take control from then on.

What will happen: Don't expect anything special. USC will win, but it won't be the type of jaw-dropping, that-might-be-the-best-team-in-America, type of performance many are expecting. Illinois is too good on the lines to allow this to get out of hand, but as the game goes on, the USC linebackers will be more and more effective, Williams will struggle throwing the ball, and Booty and company will take advantage of the breaks and the good field position. Illinois can't punt, has a mediocre return game, and doesn't do enough of the little things right to pull off a game this big. Don't assume the Ohio State win was harbinger of things to come. USC will be focused, with so many players back in the mix and looking to make a statement, and there won't be the mistakes on offense that the Buckeyes made.

Line: USC -14... CFN Prediction: USC 30 ... Illinois 17
http://cfn.scout.com/2/711239.html

[Will4144]

I just don't see the old dominant Trojan team. Southern Cal will win, but Illinois will cover.

[gotrice?]

I think SoCal has the speed that will really kill the Illinois offense. I think Illinois gets held to under 10 points and I don't have that much faith in the Illini defense.

[Gamecockfanatic4]

SoCal BIG

[kda]

I dont think Illinois will win, but I gotta take the points.

[Count Cockula]

^^ same here 500k on ILL

[usc1]

Moneys on the trojans

[scfan2001]

I'd love to see USC get beat. I think they will cover the spread though.

[USCya]

Hopefully I will get some vCash prior to this one kicking off... I should have listened to Cuck and not spend it all in one place.... just too many games and not enought vCash.

[garnet4ever]

Hopefully I will get some vCash prior to this one kicking off... I should have listened to Cuck and not spend it all in one place.... just too many games and not enought vCash.

I think theres an 800 number for that bro ... the first step is admitting you have a problem ...

:mrgreen:

[Will4144]

Illinois is getting smacked around. 42-10 Trojans.

[usc90grad]

Lots of vcash being lost on this one. The house is rich tonight!

[Gamecockfanatic4]

vCash me por favor

[Snake]

vCash me por favorPaid