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NFL Divisional Playoffs
Top 100 NFL Fantasy Players According to Our Statistics ($9.95)
Illinois Fighting Illini Vs Southern California Trojans
1/1/08
The Fighting Illini take on the Southern California Trojans this New Year’s Day in the granddaddy of them all—the Rose Bowl, which will be held in Pasadena, California. Oddsmakers have opened the Trojans as 14-point favorites, with early, sharp money driving the line down to 13.5 points. Since then, the line has gone back up to 14 points.
The Fighting Illini are 9-3 straight up and 7-4 against the spread. On the road, they are 4-1 in both the straight up and against the spread ledger. The author feels the Illini’s strength lies in their running game. Led by their stud running quarterback, Juice Williams, the Illini average 266.2 yards on the ground per game—this statistic overshadows USC’s running game (they average 185.8 yards on the ground per contest). The author likes the fact that the Fighting Illini can move the ball on the ground, and hence will keep this game within the number. A good defense is a good thing to have, but a good offense also keeps a team in a game. The double-digit spread given by the oddsmakers should motivate these Illini and hopefully make this a Rose Bowl game to remember.
The almighty Southern California Trojans once again return to the Rose Bowl as Pac-10 champions, a fact that was almost not to be after their loss to the Stanford Cardinal earlier in the year. They come into this game off an emotional victory against their inter-city rival, the UCLA Bruins by the score of 24-7 (although they won the game, they failed to cover the 19.5 point home favorite spread). USC is 10-2 straight up this year, but only going 6-6 against the number. On the road, the Trojans are 5-1 straight up and 4-2 against the number.
The author sees a close game throughout. USC does enough in the 4th quarter to win this by double digits (but not enough to cover the spread).
Game prediction: 33-22 USC.
