2008 Rose Bowl: Illinois vs USC

This is a great match between Pac 10 and Big 10, and I am very much looking forward to this game in many ways. Many people think Illinois shouldn't be in the Rose Bowl with USC, and instead it should be Georgia. I think Illinois is very deserving to be in the Rose bowl with the likes of USC. They have make the biggest turn around from the last two years because of the coaching and recruiting of Ron Zook. USC and Illinois have a very similar record, believe or not. USC have key wins over #14 Nebraska, #24 California, and #6 Arizona State and upset lost to unranked Stanford and #5 Oregon. Illinois have keys wins over #21 Penn State, #5 Wisconsin, and #1 Ohio State and upset lost to Missouri, Iowa, and #25 Michigan. Both teams have had their highs and lows. People don't give Illinois a chance against USC because they are unknown team from past years and people say Big 10 was weak this year, but i totally disagree.

#13 Illinois: This team has really come with the help of Ron Zook with a record of 9-3 and runner up in the Big conference. The big upset win over #1 Ohio State obviously got where they are now. I really believe they can beat USC at the Rose Bowl in another upset victory to cap off this season in a very exciting and close game. Illinois offers one of the best rush offenses in the country with 266.2 per game average yards and 5th ranked in NCAA. They run a spread offence with SEC like speed with key players; Juice Williams, Rashard Mendenhall, Jeremy Leman, and Arrelious Benn. They need to play a flawless such like they did against Ohio State, and create turnover on defense against a always tough USC.

#6 USC: This team as everybody knows always have talent on both sides of the ball, but injuries and other such distractions like media and lack of team work. Their lost to Stanford in one of the biggest upsets in history kept them out of the BCS Champion game. But they are back at home at the Rose Bowl and playing as good as they should. They have keys players such as; John David Booty, Fed Davis, and Keith Rivers. For them to win they need to play like that did against Arizona state, and kept Illinois defense from getting to John David Booty because would mean a bad day like the Stanford lost.