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Rose Bowl Preview
Written by Sal Primonta on 12/31/2007
The Fighting Illini of Illinois and their coach Ron Zook surprised not only the Big Ten but the entire college football world this season by finishing the season with only three losses, and spurred by their November 10 win at Ohio State, vaulting into BCS consideration. Not only did the 13th-ranked Illini finish strong, they preserved for the Rose Bowl its classic match-up of Big Ten vs. Pac 10.
One of the best stories of the 2007 college season will be facing an SC team (No. 7 BCS) looking to prove that they are back to 100%, having played through injuries much of the season. If Illinois gets intimidated early or has their spread offense stymied, their storybook season may likely come to an end on New Year's Day, as the Illini heads into foreign waters to take on perennial powerhouse USC, a team that at this point must think they have a regular New Year's Day appointment in Pasadena. Although the Pac 10 and west coast generally feature the more explosive offenses in Big Ten-Pac 10 matches, this year things look a little different with the Big Ten team actually featuring an offense that is just as potent, if not more so, than their western foes. Speed will be the order of the day as Illinois QB Juice Williams and his high-powered offense take on the fastest linebacker corps in all of college football. USC is finally healthy at all positions on defense, and they will need their legs in order to spy Williams and slow down the Big Ten's best rushing offense, led by RB Rashard Mendenhall. For the first time in Pete Carroll's reign at SC, the Trojans do not feature a wealth of talent at wide receiver, leaving QB John David Booty to rely on tight end Fred Davis and freshman RB Joe McKnight, who has emerged late in the season as a quick-hit threat with his deadly speed. In order to beat the more talented and experienced Trojans, the Illini must control the ball by mixing up their offensive play calling and hope to keep SC's explosive offense off the field for as long as possible. This recipe for success worked on November 10 in Columbus, and Illinois will need a similar performance if they want to take down the Trojans.
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