Trojans Face Penn State for the Roses

Its probably fitting . . . two teams who were just one play away from playing in the national championship game will face one another in the Grandaddy of Them All - the Rose Bowl.

USC and PSU meet in a clash of traditional titans in Pasadena on Jan. 1st, and on paper, this looks like a good one.

Let's break it down Rose Bowl style:

Penn State

Offense: QB Daryl Clark is the straw that stirs the drink for PSU. He comes into the game completing 60% of his passes, and throwing for 17 TDs vs. only 4 INTs. He can also scramble for yards, running for nearly 300 yards on the year. RB Evan Royster also ran up 1200+ yards behind an OLine led by first team All American A.Q. Shipley. At the WR position, Derrick Williams gets the publicity as the Nittany Lions' best playmaker, but its Deon Butler who leads the team in receptions (43) and TDs (7).

Defense: PSU's front seven is led by All American DE Aaron Maybin who led the Big Ten in sacks with (14). DT Jared Odrick is also a handful at 6'5, 305lbs - and was an All Big Ten first team selection. MLB Navarro Bowman is an active player who led the team in tackles, while the secondary is led by CB Lydell Sargent.

Special Teams: WR Derrick Williams is also a dangerous punt and kick returner. Willias has 1 punt return for a TD, as well as 2 kickoff returns for TDs this season. FG kicker Kevin Kelly is also "money" on field goals of 40 yards or less, going 15 - 15 on the season. On field goals of 40+ yards, Kelly is less successful connecting on only 4 - 8 (50%). Punter Jeremy Boone averages 42 yards per punt.

USC

Offense: QB Mark Sanchez is coming off solid performances the last quarter of the year, and will need to continue to play mistake free football vs. a very disciplined PSU. RBs Johnson, Gable and McKnight will have to take care of the ball, and may find success on the perimeter with their speed. If the OLine can handle PSU DE Maybin off the edge, then they can provide enough protection for Sanchez to look downfield to the receiving corp of Damian Williams, Ronald Johnson, Pat Turner and TE Anthony McCoy. Those guys could have a big day, as SC's pass routes are different than what PSU is used to seeing (although missing FB Stan Havili does hurt SC's passing game.)

Defense: SC's vaunted front seven will face a PSU team that will attack them straight up. The Trojan DTs in particular (Moala, Topou and Casey) will have to occupy PSU's OLinemen and allow LBs Maualuga, Cushing and Maiava to flow to the ball carriers. Safety Will Harris will be a big help in run support, while CBs Cary Harris, Kevin Thomas and Josh Pinkard will have to guard some very capable PSU WRs who may try to do what no team has been able to against SC's back four: go deep.

Special Teams: This game represents an opportunity for SC's kick returners Ronald Johnson and CJ Gable to make big plays. PSU only has 12 touchbacks on kickoffs this season, so Johnson and Gable will get some returnable kicks. Punt returner Joe McKnight is back in the lead role here, but must take care of the ball above all else. The punt and kickoff coverage units for the Trojans must be sharp against PSU's Derrick Williams.

Prediction:

USC - 31

PSU - 10