[thatpfunk]

[ QUOTE ]
MB is notorius for not winning big games

Texas 38 Michigan 37 2005 Rose Bowl
Texas 25 Ohio State 22 Sept 10
Texas 45 Oklahoma 12 Oct 8

These weren't big games?

They also played in the Big-12, not an offensive powerhouse.

Last time I checked the Big-12 was 4-1 in this years bowl season and they've been the underdog in every game.

USC is playing a home game.

How many times do you play a "home game" and have half the stadium filled with your opponents fans?

The bottom line for me is this. Texas is the best team USC has played all year and they've had some close scrapes several times. I'm taking the points.

[/ QUOTE ]

OU is THE game for UT year in and year out. I think it is fair to say when the teams have been very close in skill level (ending the year ranked 4,5 and 8,9) UT has lost 35-24, 12-0. The other two years the team which seemed to have a significant advantage won.

Yes last year #4UT beat #12UM (38-37). However the year before a #5UT lost to a #12WSU(20-28. Year before #9UT beat #25 LSU (35-20). That's a 3-4 record in big games with wins as #2 vs an unranked, #4 vs #12, and #9 vs #25.

On the other hand let's look at PC. 3-0 in bowls as #1 vs #3 (51-19), #1/2 vs #4 (28-14), and #5 vs #3 (38-17). USC has 1 loss in three years, 3 losses in 4 years by a total of 13 points.

What do you find more impressive? Who do you want coaching?

The Big 12 has performed better than expected. That doesn't change the fact Big-12 doesn't have a lot of explosive offenses.

UT does have a good defense, I'm in not saying they don't. The USC offense, however, is much better than anything UT faced in the Big-12.

A home game is an advantage. USC knows the field, it will be how they like it (no 3" of grass like at ND), they will be used to LA, their home game rituals, etc. There are a ton of tiny aspects that are advantageous to USC, no matter how you want to slice it.