The First Poll: USC or Texas in the Rose Bowl

These guys are impressive. And I mean both. What a game. So, who will it be?

That would seem to make most sense since they both seem to think they're number 1.

Should be hell of a game, though.

is convinced they're the best, and no one can tell him otherwise. I'm secretly (very secretly) rooting for USC.

Oh, duh, I'm so stupid. I just re-read your post. Of course, you're assuming they'll both be PLAYING in the Rose Bowl. You were inquiring who was going to WIN. DUMB, DUMB, DUMB.

Will you be watching it with him, and if so, can you resist rooting for USC? Could be trouble. Head for the hills.

and will "act" really happy for him if the Longhorns win. I've always hated them -- just like he's always hated USC -- just a gut feeling, can't say why. Maybe it's because I went to the University of Houston way back in the Dark Ages, and those people from Austin always made us feel like poor stepchildren even though at the time we had the best BASKETBALL team in the country - although UCLA fans may disagree (1968).

Speaking of "poor stepchildren," that's MSU versus Michigan, although I would never admit it to them. Elvin Hayes v. Lew Alcindor; you broke UCLA's winning streak in the Astrodome. I will never forget watching it. Watch this game somewhere. The immovable force v. the irresistable object. As much hype and excitement as Houston v. UCLA, in the Dark Ages (I was in high school).

Elvin Hayes was a friend of mine...I kind of helped him with his class work now and then. I took him out to my parents' house once in 1966 to shoot a few hoops in the driveway with my little brothers. I think my parents were a little nervous about it at the time, not knowing how the neighbors would react, but they all ended up coming out to meet him and shake his hand. 1964, the year we all started college, was the first year U of H had integrated athletic teams. When our integrated football team played against Ole Miss, they had to play in Tennessee or somewhere because Ole Miss wouldn't allow us to play in their stadium. Times have sure changed.

Great story. Please share it sometime on DU Lounge.

*there should never be a rosebowl game without the top Big Ten and PAC Ten teams playing*

Not even the OP??

Texas will win it ALL baybeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOOK "EM BABY!!!!

Were going allllllllllllllllllll the way!!!


GO HORNS!!!

As an alum I'm more worried than last year against Oklahoma. But essentially playing at our second home in the Rose Bowl should be a huge edge. Teams can cover up defensive liabilities much more easily at home than neutral site or on the road.

Plus, as I've emphasized many times, USC's defensive personnel is vastly understated. I have to chuckle every time I read USC doesn't play defense. Pete Carroll is a defensive coach. This year's team had major losses on the defensive line to the early rounds of the NFL draft, then the linebackers and secondary sustained major injuries all year. Now those guys are getting healthier. You saw that today after two weeks rest. Keith Rivers should be completely healthy for the Rose Bowl and he's a major talent. The recruiting has been superb and the defensive lineup is flooded with young talent.

And one other thing, Texas almost plays into USC's hands by sitting there in the shotgun all game long. I'd be much more concerned about an opponent who lines up in standard formation and will eagerly muscle you head to head. Texas' attack is based on finesse, slow developing running plays and Vince Young taking off to use his athletic ability. I love Pete Carroll's chances to design a scheme to thwart plenty of that crap.

USC lines up in basic offensive formations and has superior personnel, including the offensive line. Good luck to Texas. They won't have seen anything like it. Heck, Michigan put up a ton on them in the Rose Bowl last year. Football is a physical but fundamental sport and the team embracing the most basic old school formations and strategy generally wins the big games, and deservedly so.

Right now, I too favor USC, but I am not impressed with their special teams, except for Reggie Bush. That's often huge in a game of this magnitude. Also, Leinart was off today. He can't play like that against Texas. Neither team has seen the other's speed and skill this year. Notre Dame is good, but so is Ohio State. Two incredibly razor thin wins for each, so that's a wash. That Texas defensive line is scary good. What USC did to an overrated Oklahoma team last year, I don't think will happen again. In fact, I guarantee it. But it will be high scoring, and USC will likely win in a shootout. Can't wait. Will be the most hyped game since MSU-Notre Dame in 1966. Seriously.

That OU team displayed severe vulnerability, nearly losing at Texas A&M and Oklahoma St while surrendering big points in each game.

Texas had to fade a logically big home effort from Texas A&M last week and I don't downgrade them for that. But the Ohio St game I'm not forgetting. Texas controlled the first quarter then was clearly outplayed for the next 2 1/2 quarters. The Buckeyes stymied Young and had tons of chances to put the game away in Texas territory. Credit to the Horns for limiting them to FG attempts, but if the Buckeye kicker hadn't missed the last attempt from something like 45 yards Texas would have lost. That would have provided a 9 point margin. Instead, Texas was only down by 6 and Young put together one big drive to pull it out. Then the Ohio St QB fumbled immediately and Texas added a cushion FG to make the final score somewhat misleading.

Texas' big problem is the Big 12 is a pass happy finesse league. I work in sports stats and the Big 12 is a pantyhose farce this year. Seven of the 12 teams don't even average 130 yards rushing, which is basically 75th in the nation or lower. So I'm not convinced Texas' defensive line is that good. USC has nothing but blue chip recruits on the offensive line and I think they'll gash the Horn interior often.

Leinart was strangely off today. He played one of his best games against Oklahoma last year and I'm not worried about #11 in Pasadena. Plus our play calling has improved all year with the new offensive coordinator. I used to be able to predict Norm Chow but this guy has me guessing wrong.

OK, don't get a big head. But you're damned good, and I hope you will stay in touch. I am sure you know that mechanics and skill are only part of it. Experience and a mindset are perhaps even more important, and I think USC has that all over Texas. Texas is the more complete team, less reliant on superstars (with apologies to Vince Young). But I give the edge to USC. Three straight national titles, in a great game that USC takes over in the second half, after trailing in the first. Crack one open for me on Jan. 4, and your analysis is always welcome here.

You should post in the Sports forum. It moves relatively slow but there are good threads and opinions there. The Lounge used to be home to all the sports threads but now their split between here and the Sports forum.

I admittedly got frustrated and annoyed over there yesterday. I appreciate solid opinions like yours and in this thread in general, but as a Dolphin fan some of the ridiculous knocks on the '72 Dolphins ticked me off. One poster wrote that team didn't have a receiving threat, conveniently ignoring Hall of Famer Paul Warfield and his 21 yards per catch average in '72. Another poster confidently wrote Miami "wouldn't have stood a chance" against Pittsburgh or Oakland just two years later in '74. I seem to remember an injured Miami team that had fallen off significantly from '72 or '73 and with a lame duck Csonka, Warfield and Kiick playing head to head with Oakland at Oakland in the '74 playoffs, losing 28-26 in the final seconds on Stabler's desperate shot put to Clarence Davis even while playing without starting safety Jake Scott and starting cornerback Tim Foley. I guess that was a definition of not standing a chance.

That same poster said the unbeaten record was one of the most overrated feats in sports history. I didn't even know how to respond to something that loony. As of 2004 there had been 1712 teams in the NFL and old AFL to begin a season since 1920, and exactly one of them went unbeaten and untied. Sounds like the definition of routine and overrated to me.

Thanks for the excellent thread.

...into what the Horns will bring to the table. You called it when you said our defensive front is flawed. Our safeties are leading the team in tackles, and that's a sign that our defensive front is porous to the run, and we will probably give up some yards to Reggie Bush. You'll have to beat us on the ground, though, because our pass defense is tight. We DO have a hell of a pass rush, though, and that will keep your QB in check.

What hurts USC is that Leinart is not particularly mobile. He's a drop-back passer and we'll get a good pass rush. If we can rattle his cage a few times, look out. Notre-Dame went toe-to-toe with you guys, and we're a far superior team. We can handle good pass offenses (look at what we did to Texas Tech), so you had better prepare to put it on the ground and keep it there.

We've improved a lot since that Ohio State game. Bring your best shots. You'll need everything you've got.

Vince is the best QB in college football. He can change the game in an instant. You can't put in a defense that can corrall him.

This year he's developed happy feet particularly when pressured from the outside. I noticed your rush seems very quick and aggressive from the outside and I'm sure that will blow up some plays and force sacks.

But our offensive line is excellent and I'm not conceding anything to the passing game even though your secondary is experienced and very talented. Our scheme is superb with tons of motion influence that keeps the defense off balance and spreads the field. We run in passing situations all the time with great success and that always keeps the safeties playing run first. I think we can get Reggie to the perimeter frequently and that's where he is lethal.

Plus today we never ran him downfield in pass patterns. Frankly, I think we saved that since we didn't need it today. Be prepared for a heavy dose of White at tailback with Reggie forcing a mismatch in the slot. We used that more in the Orange Bowl last year than we displayed all season and OU had no clue.

I realize you guys improved significantly since the Ohio St game. In confidence as much as anything. Plus getting over the hump against the Sooners. But I think the conference is very weak and that doesn't bode well for a bowl game against a team as talented as USC.

I fully realize Texas is very talented and legit. I'm glad we're playing this in Pasadena. If we had last year's USC defense I'd be certain of victory but this season I can't dismiss the vulnerability we've displayed. Today we matched up extremely well with a team we could push around in the trenches. I almost wish we went straight from the Fresno St game to the Rose Bowl without a game like today which potentially inspires overconfidence.

You know your team well. One additional piece of insight from a Texas perspective. Our offensive line is our secret strength. True that we don't have a 1,000 yard rusher, but the running-back-by-committee has worked well for us this year since we have so many different types of backs. Our O-line is great in pass protection, and they can open up truck-width lanes for our running game. Your defensive front is vulnerable to that sort of game plan. We also have a lot of strength at tight-end.

We'll definitely have our hands full with your running game. I still think that we can get you guys out of your game plan if we can get Leinart out of the pocket. If we can get a good pass rush, that might lead to a turnover or two. Might be the difference in a game like this.

My head says USC is the best team ever and will win.