Rose Bowl: USC vs UT (who you like with the pts spread)

Yeah that's a legitimate concern. Bobino in particular will clearly be out of place on that field against USC's offense. USC's o-line is so huge and good that UT won't be getting much penetration, either. UT will have to put up a lot of points on offense, because USC will be gaining huge yardage from their running game. Never mind the former Heisman winner they have passing the ball....that's another story.

 

Well, this is the matchup everyone wants. I think this is going to be a very close game and hopefully my Horns will pull it out.

Texas definitely has the better defense and that might prove to be the difference in the game. I don't think USC has played against a defense nearly as good as Texas. But then again, Texas hasn't played against an offense that features the likes of Leinart/Bush.

The key will be stopping Bush. I think our secondary can handle Leinart and the passing attack, but if Bush has one of those games, it will be very very difficult to win the game. I like our push up front on D, but the linebackers are what I'm worrying about. It's all about containment, UCLA let Bush beat them to the sideline everytime, if you let Bush cut it outside, there's not a whole lot you can do.

 

UT moneyline is the best value bet on this game.

 

UT 28
USC 44

 

USC 35
UT 21

I've thought all along that UT would get beat in the final game. USC has been there before. UT's just glad to finally be there.

 

Both of these teams average over 50 points a game, and one has a pretty mediocre defense. The other has struggled with run defense in recent games. I believe if Texas scores something like 40 pts, they will have scored more points than any team in college football history this season.

I suspect whoever wins this game is going to be scoring 40+ pts. My big question is how the month off affects the game. Lots of stuff happens in a month that gets teams out of rhythm and such. If the game were next weekend, I would say

UT 49
USC 42

 

I want to bet on the money line....but may hedge with the points and take Texas.

DD

 

What's the best offense Texas has played against this year?

Ohio State with Zwick (not Smith) at the helm for most of the 2nd half?
Oklahoma without Peterson?
A&M without McNeal and Courtney Lewis?
A Texas Tech team that was held to 6 points in three quarters by Baylor?

Their defensive ranking is inflated. They have never seen anything like USC's offense.

 

Sounds like the smart money in Vegas is moving to USC.... the lines out there have moved from -6 USC to -7 to now -8...

The futures contracts give a huge edge to USC....USC contract trading at 68, UT's 33.

There's a lot of homers in this thread.

 

Interesting stat.

Out of the top 50 defenses in the nation, USC has played three of them-Fresno State (#34), Cal (#47) and Oregon (#48). Texas has played five of them six times-Ohio State (#4), Oklahoma (#16), Kansas (#19) and Colorado (#44).

I'm looking at total offenses, too. Anyway you spin it, this has the makings of a great game.

 

Texas has played four of the top 50 total offenses in the nation. They held Tech (#2), A&M (#18), Missouri (#32) and Ohio State (#37) to 22ppg. USC has played five and held ASU (#4), Notre Dame (#10), Oregon (#15), UCLA (#24) and Fresno State (#28) to a little over 26.5ppg.

 

Measuring these offenses and defenses by their stats alone is not a valid way of constructing an argument. For instance, Tech's numbers are wildly inflated by dropping a collective 199 points on Florida International, Sam Houston State, and Indiana State. A&M was missing their starting quarterback AND running back when they hit UT with 29 points (could have been 36 if McGee didn't fumble inside the UT 10). Ohio State was shuffling quarterbacks in and out and Zwick (who sucks) played almost all of the 2nd half. Heck, even when UT played OU, Adrian Peterson was injured. On top of all of that, you have the effect of the Big 12 being incredibly weak this year, which by playing each other repeatedly, clouds their statistics. The same argument is made for the defensive statistics you posted. It simply doesn't hold water.

OU had better talent and coaching last year than Texas does this year. OU got steamrolled by a USC offense that returns virtually everyone.

 

So, you believe it's going to be a similar blowout?

 

smart money...lol...i deal with "smart" money everyday.

anyhow...no one has brought up that USC has big trouble with running qb's...

 

I'd take UT +7 any day of the week. UT has a better shot at winning this then most think... I think it will all come down to which Vince Young & Matt Leinarts show up for the game. If it is the Vince Young from Saturday and the Matt Leinart from Saturday... UT wins with ease.

 

ugh, a whole month of a ut circle jerk - these two teams have the most obnoxious fans in the country - I wish there was a way they both could lose

 

^^^^
Trolling for signature material in case UT wins...


I believe that Texas fans are dramatically underestimating a team that has won 34 straight games, including an absolute demolition of an Oklahoma team that was best team the Big 12 has seen since 2000.

 

Nope, just asking. I'll even make a promise not to use it if you believe it and you're wrong. I personally think that last year was a fluke and that USC played very much inspired by some comments made by the opposing team. Their defense seemed much better last year, too.

Most Texas fans I've talked to haven't done that. I think most just think it should be a good game. Most games that pit the #1 and #2 teams in the country together are. Last year's game was an abberation. I haven't heard many, if anyone, say that this game will be a blowout in Texas' favor. Most people are expecting a close and very exciting game.

 

i am not underestimating USC but i think people are vastly underrating Texas. Texas has the best running QB in CFB and USC has trouble with running QBs. The OU team of last year simply was not a stellar team. The Texas team of this year would kill that OU team. That's just my opinion...

Maybe Texas gets blown out of the water and I am dead wrong but I have had a pretty good grasp on UT football since I've got to Austin. Austin certainly has its fair share of football snobs and that turns people off, but that shouldn't change how you assess the game.

I think the bet should be on Texas +8. I don't know if we will win but that is a lot of points for a team like Texas that can score in bunches.