USC

[TheCaymanIslands]

any chance they lose the rose bowl??

[tdawgmd]

I don't see this thing as the blowout that everyone is expecting. Paterno has been great in bowl games, and USC will probably have some trouble getting up to basically play a home bowl game(the same one they play in every year). PSU will be WAY up to play this game--this will likely be a defensive struggle and I see it as a FG game at the end.

[Underdog88]

no

[Underdog88]

I am not a usc fan, but they have the best defense I have ever seen in college football. PSU had a great season, but looking back on their games, did they face a defense even close to USC's? The best defense they played was Ohio State, & they managed to put up 13 points. No doubt this line is a bit inflated, but something tells me if vegas thought PSU had a fighting chance, they would have set this line @ 6.5-7. I have USC teased down to a pick & in a ml parlay, so I won't play the spread. Maybe PSU team total under 18, as a play on USC's D.

[Underdog88]

Only advantage I see for PSU is that USC may not be up for this one. However, a coach as good as Carroll should be able to get his team up for any game, so I'm not sure it is that big of an edge. JMO

[tdawgmd]

Udogg--Carroll being a good coach at getting his team up to play? He has a brain fart against a vastly inferior opponent EVERY YEAR. I personally think he's the most overrated coach(albeit the best recruiter) in the nation.

[Stifler's Mom]

Anyone's defense can look good against Washington, Washington St, Stanfart, Notre Dame, etc.

How could the books put USC out @ under a TD here? There's already 61% on them at -9 or more. Under a TD and it's 90%, guaranteed.

Unlike Minnesota and Wisconsin, Penn St actually has some athletes with enough speed who can compete with these inner city dumps.

I don't think everyone should go judging the Big 10 so fast now just because doormat Minnesota who had an overachieving season, and is also in the process of transitioning to a different style of offense, got beat up last night.

Even Northwestern who is middle of the pack hung with and almost beat Mizzou, who granted isn't all that, but still, they are supposed to be a big time scoring offense, who was held to 23 in regulation by NW.

I don't think anyone watches more Big 10 football than myself, and from everything I've seen, Penn St is athletically in another league from any other team in the Big 10 this year. All you have to do is win at Ohio St, by one point, and that's as quality a win as you will ever have. Very rarely does anyone win there, yet Penn St was favored to do so, and did.

I still haven't a clue how they managed to hand the game away to Iowa. Granted, Iowa is a good team, but in watching that game, Penn St had so many chances to just put the hammer to Iowa, and failed to do so.

In any case, hopefully it's a good game.

[RamPride]

USC/Penn St..

I do feel that Penn St. has good speed, and athletes, but I don't feel they're close to USC's athletes, and speed...I've been capping this game for a while, and the reason I like USC so much is because they will put pressure on Darryl Clark, who I'm not sold on just yet...He made big time mistakes in Iowa City, and didn't play well at all against Ohio State...Penn State won because Pryor fumbled in Columbus..not because Penn St could move the ball...I just don't see Penn State moving the ball at all...maybe a few trick plays, maybe a long play, but USC is the best team in the country, and I feel they prove it today...USC IMO should be playing for the Nat'l Championship against Florida/Texas/Oklahoma..doesn't matter..they'd win..they won't lose to Penn State unless Sanchez poops all over himself, and gives Penn State a couple TD's..I don't see it..I do see a low scoring game...I do see USC winning by more then 13..I will make a play later on USC!

[RamPride]

USC will be up for this game I PROMISE....It's the flippin Rose Bowl..most football kids/players dream of playing in this game growing up, or for a nat'l championship...I don't think anyone realizes how good USC really is, and how overrated Penn State really is..

[FlyersFan]

well, as someone who watches a ton of BOTH pac10 and big10 football i will toss in my 2 cents. I saw both teams probably half a dozen times this year. I think that PSU has good athletes but they still don't have athletes like USC has. USC has skill and speed at EVERY position on the field and that is going to be the difference. Not only that but they are 2 and 3 deep at some of these spots. I did take PSU +10 early on and im letting it ride. I think they can compete with USC and should certainly attone better for themselves than Illinois did last year. But in the end, it's basically a home game for USC and one thing they never do is take this game lightly. I really don't see a PSU upset here and i think that the game line of 10 is probably about right in this one. The one weakness for USC is their passing game, IMO. But if they get up early that won't really matter. PSU is going to have a hard time scoring points today.

[dwd14]

there is no chance USC wont be ready for this one. its the rose bowl against paterno and penn state! they are ready and their defense is simply amazing. even though penn state is a fast team i just see the team speed of usc being the difference. i do see it being a tight game for a little while but in the past i have always seen USC shine at this times. the past few years everyone has doubted usc in the rose bowl, but they always come out and impress.

[tdawgmd]

wow, psu gave the trojans a bunch of gifts in that game. Trojans almost gave it back with that punt snap, but I really would've had no business covering that one.

Hedged it with the 2nd half over, so at least pushed. Congrats to all on USC(but they still aren't the greatest team ever assembled).