[rtrombone]

Styles make games. How did Notre Dame and Fresno St. move the ball against USC? With a precision passing game supplemented by enough running to provide balance. ASU also hurt them through the air. Nobody is arguing that these teams are better than Texas, but the reality may very well be that they were better equipped to exploit USC's biggest weakness--its cornerbacks.

Texas crushed its opponents this year by simply overpowering them. Look it up. They passed for 234.7 yards per game (42nd in the country) and rushed for 273.8 (3rd). Smaller teams could not match up with that offensive line, and in football when you get dominated at the line of scrimmage you get destroyed.

So many more things can go wrong for Texas in this game. Who's in worse shape if they fall behind by two touchdowns, Texas or USC? Who's more likely to turn the ball over in a bad spot? Which coaching staff do you trust to make better in-game adjustments? Let me tell you something--if USC keeps Texas in third and long for much of the game they are going to ANNIHILATE them.

Everyone says USC hasn't seen an offensive line like Texas' or a QB like Vince Young. What they forget is that the D practices against USC's offensive line--every bit as good as Texas'--daily. Oh, they also see a lot of a guy who's more athletic and faster than Young. He wears #5.

Texas backers want everyone to forget about what happened last year. "We're not Oklahoma," they say. Yeah, you're not. You're the squad that regularly took it up the ass from Bob Stoops and his boys. Fine, forget about last year. You still have to respect USC's track record. Three years ago they easily defeated an Iowa team quarterbacked by another mobile Heisman candidate, Brad Banks. And Kirk Ferentz is a MUCH better coach than Mack Brown. Look at his record in bowl games. Two years ago USC handily beat a Michigan team many considered the hottest, if not the best, in the country.

I think Pete Carroll will find a way to stymie Texas' relatively elementary offense. Once he gets out of his comfort zone Young will throw at least two picks. He did against Ohio State, and USC has come up with a TON of turnovers this year. If Ohio State was able to score 22 on Texas, how many will USC score? Remember, that Ohio State team still played Tressel ball. I don't know who this impostor is who's opened up the offense.

If Pinnacle offers an alternative line for the game I will gladly lay 14 and 21 points.