2009 Rose Bowl Predictions – Penn State v. USC Football Odds & Picks

A pair of stunning road losses is all that is standing in the way of Penn State and USC meeting in the BCS Championship Game instead of the Rose Bowl. Exactly one week before another pair of one-loss teams play for the national title, we’ll watch the Big Ten and Pac-10 champs duke it out in the Granddaddy of Them All. The USC Trojans have won back-to-back Rose Bowl game and with this one taking place in their own backyard, it comes as no surprise that USC is the 9-point favorite with the total set at 45.

This game features two of the most storied programs in college football history and a clash between one of the all-time great coaches and one that will likely end up there. The Nittany Lions are No. 6 all-time with 800 wins and the Trojans are 10th with 765. The 82-year-old Joe Paterno is the all-time leader in coaching victories with 383. Joe Pa won Big Ten Coach of the Year honors and is also the all-time leader in bowl wins with a 23-10-1 bowl record.

USC and Penn State enter this game ranked fifth and sixth respectively in the AP Poll. It was considered a down year for each conference, but I guaranteed you that there is not a team in the country that would gladly welcome either program.

The loss that stood in USC’s way of a national title game berth was a 27-21 setback against Oregon State. The Trojans fell behind 21-0 at the half and could not complete the comeback. For Penn State, it was a late season loss to Iowa. The Lions blew a nine-point fourth quarter lead and were beaten on a last-second field goal.

There are a couple interesting things to point out in this matchup. The Nittany Lions had no trouble beating the only team that beat the Trojans, routing Oregon State 45-14 at home. Also, both teams beat Ohio State, but the Trojans did it more convincingly.

One of the things that the college football odds makers are looking at when setting the line is that USC was the more dominant team down the stretch, outscoring its opponents 342-56 over the final two months of the season. The nation’s top ranked defense shut out three opponents and only allowed one team scored over 10 points during that stretch.

While offense has been on display at USC in recent history, with players like Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush leading the way, this year’s team is built on defense. No team has given up fewer points (7.8) or total yards per game (206.1). The average of 122.8 passing yards allowed is particularly impressive because it’s nearly 37 better than any other team even though most of USC’s opponents had to throw a lot after falling well behind. If you like the Trojans defense to take care of business again, bet USC at -9 at Bookmaker.

Because either USC or Ohio State has been a part of the last four BCS title games, this Rose Bowl is special because it features the true Pac-10 and Big Ten champs for the first time since 2004. The Nittany Lions have not played in this game since 1995 when it beat Oregon 38-20 to finish the season undefeated. Nebraska beat Miami in the Orange Bowl that year to also finish undefeated and was crowned national champion. It was scenarios like that which gave berth to our current BCS system.

Penn State will certainly have its work cut out for itself as it faces a USC team that has won a record 23 Rose Bowls out of the 94 played. It blew out Illinois 49-17 last season and Michigan 32-18 the previous year. Penn State may just have a team that can do it though, as it also boasts a top notch defense.

Penn State ranks in the top 10 nationally in points (12.4) and total yards (263.9) allowed. The Lions also boast the better offense. Penn State receivers Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and Derrick Williams are, perhaps, the best receiving corps in the country, combining for 121 catches, 1,769 yards and 15 touchdowns, and All-Big Ten QB Daryll Clark has been the guy getting them the ball. Clark threw for 2,319 yards with 17 touchdowns against just four interceptions. His last game of the season was his best, going 16-of-26 for 341 yards and four TDs without an interception in a 49-18 win over Michigan State. If you like the Nittany Lions in this one, bet Penn State at +9 at Bookmaker.

Editor’s Note: Do your college football betting on Jimmy Boyd’s 5* New Year’s Day Bowl GAME OF THE YEAR going on this game. It is one of his strongest football picks of the entire season!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• 2010 Capital One Bowl Picks: Penn State v. LSU Football Odds & Predictions
• 2010 Rose Bowl Odds: Oregon v. Ohio State Football Picks & Predictions
• 2009 Penn State NCAA Football Predictions
• Iowa at Penn State Football Picks & Predictions
• 2009 Las Vegas Bowl Odds: Oregon State v. BYU Football Picks & Predictions

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