Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State | giants50's Blog

This is the big game. USC's only loss has come to Oregon State, on Spetember 25, 27-21. Penn State's only loss has come to Iowa, who won with a game winning field goal, 24-23, as time expired. These teams have not met in a Rose Bowl since 1923, when USC coach Gus Henderson and Penn State coach Hugo Bezdek got into a large argument at pregame warmups. Southern California went on to win that one, 14-3. USC has given up 7.8 points per game while Penn State has given up 12.4, both top 5 defenses in the nation. But Penn State beat USC defeater Oregon State by the score of 45-14. But USC beat Ohio State by 32 while Penn State only beat them by 7. Joe Paterno, the Penn State Nittany Lions head coach has 383 career wins and 23 of them are bowl victories. USC has fierce linebacker Rey Maualaga, who leads the team this year with 73 tackles. The Nittany Lions are 15th in the nation in rushing the football, and Evan Royster is also 15th in yards per game with 100.2. But USC has only given up 2.6 yards per carry this year and only 7 rushing TDs, an average of .58 per game. Daryll Clark, quarterback of Penn State has an excellent line that gives him plenty of time but the USC Trojans have the best pass defense in the nation so Clark will have to get rid of the ball fast. Penn State has held opponents to 2.9 yards a carry this year but the Trojans have scored 26 rushing TDs and have averaged 5.3 yards per carry along with 206 yards per game. Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, and C.J. Cable have all combined to do this, all averaging more than 50 yards per game a piece. Penn State has a great pass rush defense and will force USC quarterback Mark Sanchez to throw, who has benn picked off 7 of his 12 games played this season. Penn State's top wide receiver Derrick Williams has returned 3 kickoffs this year for Penn State but USC has the greatest average return, first in the nation. Pete Carroll is a good enough coach to outcoach Joe Paterno. He has been to seven consecutive bowles, seven consecutive conference titles, and 6 consecutive top 5 finishes with two straight Rose Bowl wins(3 overall) and 2 BCS championship victories. USC has the advantage and they will win, 31-23.

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December 31, 2008 11:36 PM ET

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Nice research (just wish you found the return key - if it is an issue with your browser, try logging in and editing from another PC).

I would call it close if it wasn't in Pasadena. There isn't a team in NCAAF I would pick to beat USC in Pasadena this year.