The Rose Bowl Penn State vs USC – Pick & Analysis
The Rose Bowl, the granddaddy of them all, features two of the most storied programs in college football history as the Penn State Nittany Lions travel to the Coliseum to take on the USC Trojans. For sports betting fans, this is one of the more intriguing match-ups of the Bowl Season. Penn State was somewhat of a surprise this year going 11 and 1 straight-up and 7-3-1 against the BetUS online betting spread. Their biggest victory was a road win over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Now, before anybody starts talking about the Buckeyes getting hammered by USC earlier in the season, college football betting fans had better remember that USC got to play the Bucks in Los Angeles. Penn State played them in Ohio. Football betting fans should also remember that freshman quarterback Terelle Pryor had a few weeks to get his feet underneath him before playing against the Nittany Lions. He was pretty much a babe in the woods when the Trojans got to rough him up.
USC is USC. They are always good, every year, and it seems like they always make it to the Rose Bowl. They just can never quite get to the BCS Championship, even though every year online sports betting fans throw their weight behind them and the Trojans are inevitably ranked number one at least at one point during the season. This USC team has a super vaunted defense, but I have an issue with it that I will explain later on in this article. As far as against the BetUS online betting spread, the Trojans were okay going 6 and 6 on the season. They had trouble putting the ball into the end zone at times and the loss to Oregon State was pretty much inexcusable.
Here are the BetUS online sportsbook betting odds for this game.
Penn State Nittany Lions + 9 – 110 + 275 O 45 – 110
USC Trojans – 9 – 110 – 335 U 45 – 110
Here are a few online wagering trends that might help us find a good online bet in this game.
The Penn State Nittany Lions are 5 and 0 against the spread in their last 5 games against a non-conference opponent.
The Penn State Nittany Lions are 1 and 5 against the spread in their last 6 games as the underdog.
The USC Trojans are 5 and 1 against the spread in their last 6 bowl games.
The USC Trojans are 22 and 6 against the spread in their last 28 games versus a non-conference opponent.
Okay, maybe I’ve been drinking the Joe Pa Kool-Aid but I really believe that the Penn State Nittany Lions have a legitimate shot in this game to not only beat the BetUS online betting spread but to also win against the money-line.
Things just feel like they’re setting up for a Penn State victory. Penn State has a very, very good defense and their offense is underrated. Quarterback Daryll Clark was the number one high school recruit a few years back. Why he chose to play for Joe Paterno speaks volumes of the type of program Paterno runs. To me, that says a lot. So, there’s Evan Royster running and Deon Butler catching and then Clark can run if need be as well.
That makes Penn State a pretty good offensive team. What about that incredible USC defense with 8 potential first day NFL draft picks starting? Well, they’re terrifically fast, but the problem I see is like the Chicago Bears in the NFL, the USC Trojans’ defense is built to be fast, not strong.
They won’t be able to muscle that offensive line of Penn State. If Joe Pa decides to go to a straight rush it down their throats type game, then USC could be in trouble.
Yes, I just wrote that. I also don’t believe that USC has a passing game. Sure, they have three of the best running backs in the NFL…err…college football…but Penn State knows that. Penn State has a terrific defensive backfield that could play man to man against USC’s receivers. State’s defense puts 8 in the box and all of a sudden that USC offense sputters.
I’m not saying it’s a slam dunk, but look at the stats, look at the individual players, look at the schedules that each team played and the Penn State Nittany Lions become a viable long shot to upset the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl.
2009 Rose Bowl Prediction:
I’m taking a big online betting swing in this game. I’m betting Penn State to beat USC straight-up at the online sportsbook money-line odds of + 275.
