My prediction is as follows:
Texas needs to decide who they want to stop. Leinart or Bush? Can they stop one or the other? Yes I think so. Texas has the athletes to stop one or the other, but NOT both.
That makes me think they will try to stop Bush. It isn't just trying to stop the run, that means directional kicking and punting.
Can UT score enough to hang with USC? Yes I think so. Vince Young will be able to get the offense moving somewhat against USC. Can they win? ONLY if someone from Texas shows up to help VY shoulder the load.
I don't know. My normal ways of predicting things are giving me mixed messages.
Normally when EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE is currently saying USC will win, I like to be contrarian and pick the other guy. But until I saw the USC-Fresno St. game, I figured USC was doing their normal, late in the year run.
With UT, we can only go off what it's opponents have done. OSU being the most impressive, destroyed ND, who previously gave USC a decent (!!) run for their money.
It won't be a blowout.
It might even go to OT, but a prediction can't really be taken seriously by saying that.
I am going to say this...
USC 27 - Texas 27
For all you Jim Rome fans..... :)
for my prediction:
Texas 34 - USC 30
Mike, you're entitled to your prediction, but I'm not sure you're entitled to smoke crack before making them.
Leaving any possibility of illegal recreational drug use aside, any notion that that this will be a defensive struggle with the winner scoring less than five touchdowns is not reasonable.
I know I agree with you on most things. You're just dead wrong here.
And sorry about the crack comment. ;-)