2008 Rose Bowl: USC Trojans V Illinois Fighting Illini
And by simply reading that alone, you just know these Trojans will be trying to salvage their disappointing season by winning the Rose Bowl.
On January 1 in Pasadena, Californians will be rocking as they try to will the USC Trojans to end what has been a rather disappointing campaign in the 2007 NCAA college football season on a high note by winning the 2008 Rose Bowl game over the Illinois Fighting Illini.
You see, before the season began, the USC Trojans were the heavy favorites to win it all, with quarterback John David Booty winning the Heisman. After 14 weeks of college football, John David Booty is nowhere near the top four Heisman candidates and the Trojans, nowhere near the BCS national championship game.
STILL, they managed to get to the Rose Bowl to go up against Illinois. However, if these Trojans think that the Illinois Fighting Illini will just give ‘em the red carpet for USC to end their season with the Rose Bowl championship, they have another thing coming.
The Illinois Fighting Illini finished the season 9-3 overall, and second in the Big Ten at 7-2. Illinois had key wins over then No.5 Wisconsin and in Columbus against No.1 Ohio State Buckeyes, yes the same team that will be playing for the BCS national title this season.
The University of Illinois is the only team in the country to defeat the Buckeyes during the 2007 season and will now be making their fifth appearance in the Rose Bowl Game. They are 3-1 in Rose Bowl Game appearances.
Yes, the Fighting Illini are no pushovers and should be able to give the USC Trojans one competitive football game. Both teams want the Rose Bowl and if I was to choose which team should I put my money on, I would have to go with the Trojans since the 2008 Rose Bowl game will be played in Pasadena and as ya’ll know, home field advantage is such a big thing in this game.
Who will win the 2008 Rose Bowl Game between the USC Trojans and the Illinois Fighting Illini? AcesAce Sportsbook has the odds.
Illinois Fighting Illini +13.5
USC Trojans -13.5
Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for more college football betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.
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6 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Crazy how well Joe McKnight played in the Rose Bowl
Only a freshman, he showed that he’s already very good, accounting for 206 all-purpose yards — 36 on three punt returns, 45 on six pass receptions and 125 in 10 carries — and prompting postgame comparisons to Reggie Bush by senior tailback Chauncey Washington and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.
From a Joe Mcknight website.
We might have another Sophomore Heisman winner next year!
6 6th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Booty had a good showing for USC in the Rose Bowl
“Booty threw for three scores — giving him a record seven touchdown passes in the last two Rose Bowls — in the Trojans’ 49-17 victory. The senior from Shreveport, La., threw his other four last year in a 32-18 defeat of Michigan.” From a John David Booty website.
Glad to see him end his Trojans career on a good note. Good luck to him in the pros.