(8)Penn State Nittany Lions vs (5)USC Trojans �
4:30 PM ET, January 1, 2009
Rose Bowl , Pasadena , CA
ABC
Spread:  USC -9.5
Total: 45

My Pick:  Ah…The Rose Bowl, both teams probably feel marginalized with only 1 loss apiece while the 2 teams playing for the championship also each have one loss.  On paper these teams look exactly alike in the rankings and this should be more of a game than the Big 10 has offered in the past as Joepa’s Nittany Lions are solid on both sides of the ball keeping consistent drives going without turnovers and then a stingy defense to finish off opponents in the 4th quarter when it counts.  Penn will RB Evan Royster to keep the clock running and allow Junior QB Daryll Clark to develop the pass which he did nicely in the final 2 games of the season throwing for nearly 600 yards combined.  The Trojans will not change a thing as the Pete Carrol offense is extremely sound.  Let Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson pound them on the ground and then let Mark Sanchez do his thing in the air with Damian Williams and Patrick Turner who ar both averaging nearly 15 yards a catch.  The spread is high because it is a home game for the Trojans and they are the more high profile team, but I think this is the year the USC finally gets punched in the mouth and if Joepa doesn’t win I think he will at least cover the spread.  Take the points.

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