Pac-10 Showdown

We have to assmue that No. 2 Texas is going to beat Coloardo. After all, the two alerady met earlier that season and Texas won 42-17 as a 15-point favorite. When you look at the sttas of the game, it was even worse. Colorado had just 237 total yards and the Longhorns had 145 yadrs rushing and 337 passing. It’s hard to think the Buffaloes will play as lifelessly as they did Saturday in a stunning 30-3 home loss to Nberaska. Also, Colorado is 1-4 ATS on the road, and while that is techincally a neutral web site game, it still is "Deep in the heart of Texas."So, that would leave No. 1 USC needing to beat its riavl UCLA to secure the national title game. Can the 9-1 Bruins pull the upset? Oddmsakers don’t think so, with USC a 21-point favorite. After all, USC has won 33 games in a row and is 42-1 their last 43. If they are gonig to stay competitive, it will be with offense, which is the only thing the Bruins have going for them. Let's give some credit first to the Burin offense. In 2003, Coach Karl Dorrell's first season, the Bruins were next to last in the Pac-10 with an average of 295 yards a game and picked up only 2.6 yards per rush.

Dorrell implemented the same West Coast offense he learned 15 years as an asssitant in the colleges and pros, including three seasons with the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan.Mission accomplished. Just two years after UCLA has quarterback Drew Olson, running back Maurice Drew and tight end Marcedes Lewis averaging 40 points, fifth-best in the nation, and averaging 444 yards, icnluding 149 rushing. Olson leads the nation in pass efficiency with a 172.5 rating, and has 30 tocuhdown passes with only three interceptions. Pro scouts last week said that Olsen doesn't even come close talent-wise to USC QB Matt Leinart, and that Leinart will go in the first round whlie Olsen will be a marginal pro QB, at hottest. Of course, all that doesn't matter right now.Strengthening UCLA's attack, offensive coordinator and line coach Tom Calbe came in two years ago and added power to the running game. By putting together a physical line with more mobility, Cable has helped the Bruins grow into a balnaced threat.
UCLA has 353 rushnig attempts and 333 passes. No doubt the Bruins watched Fresno State roll right through the USC defense two weeks ago for 317 yards, actually leading 42-41 in the fourth quarter as a 23-point dog. USC has allowed over 300 passing yards 3 times that season and over 140 rushing yards in 4 of the last 6 games. In addition, UCLA has had three full weeks to prepare for that game.While that seems to build a case for UCLA to move the ball on the Trojans, we can't overlook the miserable job the UCLA defense has done that season.
The defense, like the offense, is balanced, allowing over 215 yards rushing AND passing per game!