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Illinois at Southern California (01/01/2008)

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Posted: #1

Away:  Illinois [7-4 ATS]
Home:  Southern California [6-6 ATS]

Game Time: 5:00 PM
Stadium: Rose Bowl

Recent Meetings:
09/07/96 - USC 55 vs. ILL 3
09/04/89 - ILL 14 vs. USC 13
09/13/86 - ILL 16 vs. USC 31

Team Leaders:

Illinois:
Passing: Juice Williams (1498)
Rushing: Rashard Mendenhall (1312)
Receiving: Arrelious Benn (596)

Southern California:
Passing: John David Booty (2096)
Rushing: Chauncey Washington (894)
Receiving: Fred Davis (794)

More:
Live Odds
In-Depth Matchup Information
Consensus Betting Information

 
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Posted: #2
Trojans will squeez the juice. USC wins this running away. Illinois does not even belong in the same sentence with BCS.
 
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Posted: #3
I agree blue, I truly believe USC would SMACK "ANY" big 10 team this year.  The Illini have that spread offense, so they could have a few interesting moments, but USC wins by 2 touchdowns easily...
 
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Posted: #4
Saw the -13 spread.  As I stated, I believe USC will win by 2 touchdowns, therefore USC.  They should have ample time "and they have the talent" to put the Kabosh on the spread offense. 
 
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Posted: #5
Forgot, it IS played in California, therefore the line will probably go up by gametime (I'm sure).. And I'm pretty sure the public will be on USC as well.....Still leaning heavy towards USC..
 
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Posted: #6
I'LL TAKE THE POINTS IN THIS ONE.
USC - 33                                 ILLINOIS - 20
FIGHTING ILLINI                UNDER 50
 I KNOW IT'S USC AND I KNOW IT'S THE ROSE BOWL AND I KNOW THEY OWN THIS GAME. I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY WILL WIN THE GAME BUT I THINK THIS HUNGRY ILLINI TEAM WILL
COME READY TO PLAY AND FIND A WAY TO COVER .even if it is by a half point  
 
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Posted: #7
Colonel, why would you predict 33-20 which = 53, and then say under 50
 
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Posted: #8
ok over 50
 
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Posted: #9
Get down on USC NOW while the line is still Under -14
 
USC -13.5
 
UNLOAD on them
 
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Posted: #10
ILLINOIS LOST TO MISSOURI, LOST TO IOWA ON THE ROAD,( BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS A WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN SANDWICH), LOST TO MICHIGAN. THIS IS A DOWN YEAR FOR USC, LOSING TO STANFORD AND BEATING OREGON ST.,CAL, ARIZONA ST, UCLA (ALL PRETTY SOFT TEAMS BY YEARS END). DON'T BE FOOLED, ILLINOIS HAS THE DEFENSE AND ENOUGH TALENT TO WIN THIS GAME OUTRIGHT, AND I THINK THEY WILL.
 
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Posted: #11
i agree .. everyones doubted illinois all year long. They didnt play as tough of schedule as USC, but they won and covered last 3. The ohio st win speaks volumes at how far they have come from midseason when they lost to IOWA on the road a game they came one penalty away from winning.  And its not the offense thats winning these games its their defense which consistently stops the opposition and gives the Off more reps. I see USC and ILLINI  scoring less than anticipated here which puts illini in the game at the end. ILLINI should be motivated to play this one, as this is a let down bowl for USC (preseason #1) .
 
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Posted: #12
Whether Illinois is the best team in the Big 10 or not...the Big 10 is the Big 10...overrated year after year!  Ohio St. backed into the national championship because they play in the Big 10!  If you think Illinois has a good defense it is not even comparable to the defense SC has.  They will have a little trouble with J Williams in the first half but will figure it out.  Having played against Dixon will help them with that (Juice is no Dixon though).  I look for the game to be close, maybe even Illinois winning at half but SC is one of the best at making adjustments on both sides of the ball.  I'm not gonna bet the game but if I had to choose I would look for SC to force a few turnovers on defense and win the game 31 - 14.
 
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Posted: #13
A big thank you to the Illini!  I had several weekends become great weekends because of Illinois, but I will not be taking them against the Trojans.
 
I would take the game giving -20, USC is finally healthy, and Illinois, while a good team, will have every weakness on offense and defense exploited repeatedly.
 
I am a UGA fan, an SEC supporter, and would have liked to seen the dawgs play against the trojans in the rose.  Win/Lose/Draw that would have been a great matchup.  Even if the game underdelivered it would be interesting talking about the match-up during the weeks that lead up to the game, instead we get this match-up who cares.
 
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Posted: #14
A big thank you to the Illini!  I had several weekends become great weekends because of Illinois, but I will not be taking them against the Trojans.
 
I would take the game giving -20, USC is finally healthy, and Illinois, while a good team, will have every weakness on offense and defense exploited repeatedly.
 
I am a UGA fan, an SEC supporter, and would have liked to seen the dawgs play against the trojans in the rose.  Win/Lose/Draw that would have been a great matchup.  Even if the game underdelivered it would be interesting talking about the match-up during the weeks that lead up to the game, instead we get this match-up who cares.
 
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Posted: #15
We will see what happens but when SC covers the spread we will all know that the Big 10 is overrated for the 5th year in a row!!!
 
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Posted: #16
Illinois +13.5
 
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Posted: #17
It's weird that the line hasn't moved yet??????
 
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Posted: #18
USC should handle this one easily, and make a case for the Top 3 next season.  How did Illinois even get a game like this....oh wait, Jim Delaney, the biggest obstacle to a CFB playoff in America.  Now he continues to influence Big 11 teams' getting into bowls they cannot handle.  USC can win this by 24+, so lay the two TDs and rest easily.
 
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Posted: #19
Love Over 50 here!
 
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Posted: #20
This might be my POY right here...
 
OVER 50
 
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Posted: #21
Have you guys really looked at USC's schedule?  One word....SOFT.  They did improve late in the year, but I just don't think this team is overwhelming.  Take a look at the disparity in Top 25 teams played.  As I recall, something like 8 for Illinois and 3 for USC.  And with the number of good teams Illinois played they never lost by more than 10 and got better through the season.  Illinois won as 13 point dogs AT Ohio St.  Why should USC be favored by more here?  They shouldn't.  Illinois has plenty of weapons and speed.  Watch out for Arrelious Benn too.  Super talent had some nagging injuries that held him back some, but word is they are going to put him back for punts and kickoffs.  I see Benn as a Hester type weapon.  Super quick and talented.  Rashard Mendenhall is the best back that almost no one knows about.  Illinois runs an option and motion offense with lots of weapons, somewhat like an Oregon, which had success against USC.

I see the game most likely as a shootout so I would lean on O50.  If you believe the line/total you would see 32-18 USC.  Illinois goes over 18.  My best guesstimate would be something like 34-27 USC.  But Illinois has the talent to win this game outright too.  The spread is about 4-6 points too high IMO.

I'm waiting at this point and watching the line hoping to catch +14 or maybe even 14.5, which would be hammer material.


 
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Posted: #22
 HEAVY money is on the OVER but the line dropped half a point....
 
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Posted: #23
I am going to have a hard time trying to cover 13 or 14 in this game........the over seems way more comforting to take.......
 
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Posted: #24
Took USC -13 and a half for 1,0000, but also took them in 2 teasers at - 6 and a half to offset it....
 
 
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Posted: #25
Just some add'l info:
 
Under Pete Carroll, USC in 4 bowls has never won by 15 and the SOS is heavily in favor of Illinois. 10 vs. 75.
 
I like USC for possibly a teaser with the over.
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