Looking at these two teams closer this is really a dream matchup. Although a lot of people here may not agree on who is best, these 2 teams look very even on paper when it comes to the bottom line:
On offense:
USC-averages 36 pts.
OU-36 pts.
On defense:
USC-gives up 12 pts.
OU-13 pts.
Both teams have two Heisman trophy candidates at QB. Both teams have two sensational halfbacks. Both teams like to air it out. Leinart has thrown to no less than 15 different receivers this year. And Jason White 18 receivers. USC is rated 7 in country on defense. OU 9.
Srengths & weaknesses: USC: Not many. Their offensive line is young, but has probably done a better job than Pete Carroll ever imagined. Their defensive secondary has been burned on several long plays this year. But overall have played good. From what I have seen their defensive line is very good. I've noticed oppsing teams have a very difficult time trying to block their big bodies out of their lanes up front. In my opinion they don't let Reggie Bush run the ball enough. He had 15 carries against UCLA. I'd like to see between 20-25 carries. He's great coming out of the backfield, but because he's such a breakaway threat, he needs more touches. Their special teams play is good with Bush back there returning kicks. But they have to play much better than it did with UCLA, who that returned kick for a TD and blocked punt. Receivers are talented but young.
Strengths & weaknesses: OU: Again not very many. It's a veteran team overall, but they do have a couple rookies in some crucial positions. In the defensive middle is Dampeer, who is just a freshman. He's a huge kid, and he's hard to move, but he's playing only because senior Dusty Dvorchek got thrown off the team. Another rookie is cornerback Markus Walker, who Stoops took out of redshirt to shore up a shaky secondary. . In my opinion he will be OU's best coverback next year. Very talented and fast, but young and inexpierenced. OU's special team play has been anything but good this year. Stoops replaced his senior FG kicker with a freshman who so far has just kicked extra points. How good will he be down in the redzone with millions of people watching and the game on the line? Who knows. OU's punting game has also been dreadful at times, having a few crucial blocks and dropped snaps. It almost cost them the OSU game. Judging by the last 3 games they appear to have it turned around. But again who knows. They have 4 more weeks to work on it They do have Antonio Perkins back retuning punts. He's tied with the NCAA record for punt returns for touchdowns with 8. The rest of OU's defense is very good. Their strengths are their 2 very talented defensive ends. So far nobody's known what to do with these guys. Dan Cody will probably be a top 10 pick in the draft. OU's linebackers are both good hard-nosed tacklers, but have missed some assingments this year that has made Stoops pull out a few hairs. OU's seconday is one of the best. It got burned a few times when Antonio Perkins and Walker were out of the lineup. But that shouldn't be a problem now. And OU's safeties both play like linebackers. They love to hit. On offense there simply isn't any weaknesses. The emergence of Heisman Trophy hopeful Peterson at halfback has taken the pressure off of White. OU's weakness at the end of last season was their running game. But this guy is really something special. Their offensive line is the best in the country. Led by first round draft pick Jamall Brown, these big uglies will be hard to deal with. One of the best ball control offenses that I've ever seen. They can hold the ball all day or burn you with one play. And fun to watch too.
Overall, it doesn't get much closer with these two teams. OU is going to have to figure out what to do with Reggie Bush. He's a one man demolition squad. OU's linebacker play will have to be exceptional with Bush receving passes out of the backfield. And OU's safeties will have to get physical with USC's young receivers. Leinart is a pocket passer, and OU's 2 defensive ends are going to have to find a way to get some pressure on him. Something that hasn't been done this year, I believe because defenses are scared of getting burned on the short passes turned into long runs. But USC hasn't faced a defense this fast. On the other side I believe USC will try to stop the run first. They've got a great line and linebacker play who will make the yards very difficult to come by for Peterson. That puts the game in White's hands to make the right decisions in the pass game. Something this expierced QB has done all year. And he's got a fleet of the best wide receivers to ever play at OU, including gamebreaker Mark Clayton. A very interesting matchup between 2 teams that mirror each other in many respects. Including a couple great coaching staffs who got them this far. But in the end, it's the players who win the games. And these 2 teams look very even to me.
I'm not sure what the spread is, but getting any amount of points in a matchup like this is a gift in my humble opinion.
On offense:
USC-averages 36 pts.
OU-36 pts.
On defense:
USC-gives up 12 pts.
OU-13 pts.
Both teams have two Heisman trophy candidates at QB. Both teams have two sensational halfbacks. Both teams like to air it out. Leinart has thrown to no less than 15 different receivers this year. And Jason White 18 receivers. USC is rated 7 in country on defense. OU 9.
Srengths & weaknesses: USC: Not many. Their offensive line is young, but has probably done a better job than Pete Carroll ever imagined. Their defensive secondary has been burned on several long plays this year. But overall have played good. From what I have seen their defensive line is very good. I've noticed oppsing teams have a very difficult time trying to block their big bodies out of their lanes up front. In my opinion they don't let Reggie Bush run the ball enough. He had 15 carries against UCLA. I'd like to see between 20-25 carries. He's great coming out of the backfield, but because he's such a breakaway threat, he needs more touches. Their special teams play is good with Bush back there returning kicks. But they have to play much better than it did with UCLA, who that returned kick for a TD and blocked punt. Receivers are talented but young.
Strengths & weaknesses: OU: Again not very many. It's a veteran team overall, but they do have a couple rookies in some crucial positions. In the defensive middle is Dampeer, who is just a freshman. He's a huge kid, and he's hard to move, but he's playing only because senior Dusty Dvorchek got thrown off the team. Another rookie is cornerback Markus Walker, who Stoops took out of redshirt to shore up a shaky secondary. . In my opinion he will be OU's best coverback next year. Very talented and fast, but young and inexpierenced. OU's special team play has been anything but good this year. Stoops replaced his senior FG kicker with a freshman who so far has just kicked extra points. How good will he be down in the redzone with millions of people watching and the game on the line? Who knows. OU's punting game has also been dreadful at times, having a few crucial blocks and dropped snaps. It almost cost them the OSU game. Judging by the last 3 games they appear to have it turned around. But again who knows. They have 4 more weeks to work on it They do have Antonio Perkins back retuning punts. He's tied with the NCAA record for punt returns for touchdowns with 8. The rest of OU's defense is very good. Their strengths are their 2 very talented defensive ends. So far nobody's known what to do with these guys. Dan Cody will probably be a top 10 pick in the draft. OU's linebackers are both good hard-nosed tacklers, but have missed some assingments this year that has made Stoops pull out a few hairs. OU's seconday is one of the best. It got burned a few times when Antonio Perkins and Walker were out of the lineup. But that shouldn't be a problem now. And OU's safeties both play like linebackers. They love to hit. On offense there simply isn't any weaknesses. The emergence of Heisman Trophy hopeful Peterson at halfback has taken the pressure off of White. OU's weakness at the end of last season was their running game. But this guy is really something special. Their offensive line is the best in the country. Led by first round draft pick Jamall Brown, these big uglies will be hard to deal with. One of the best ball control offenses that I've ever seen. They can hold the ball all day or burn you with one play. And fun to watch too.
Overall, it doesn't get much closer with these two teams. OU is going to have to figure out what to do with Reggie Bush. He's a one man demolition squad. OU's linebacker play will have to be exceptional with Bush receving passes out of the backfield. And OU's safeties will have to get physical with USC's young receivers. Leinart is a pocket passer, and OU's 2 defensive ends are going to have to find a way to get some pressure on him. Something that hasn't been done this year, I believe because defenses are scared of getting burned on the short passes turned into long runs. But USC hasn't faced a defense this fast. On the other side I believe USC will try to stop the run first. They've got a great line and linebacker play who will make the yards very difficult to come by for Peterson. That puts the game in White's hands to make the right decisions in the pass game. Something this expierced QB has done all year. And he's got a fleet of the best wide receivers to ever play at OU, including gamebreaker Mark Clayton. A very interesting matchup between 2 teams that mirror each other in many respects. Including a couple great coaching staffs who got them this far. But in the end, it's the players who win the games. And these 2 teams look very even to me.
I'm not sure what the spread is, but getting any amount of points in a matchup like this is a gift in my humble opinion.
arty:
