Rose Bowl Preview: Illinois and USC to play in the 94th Rose Bowl game
Fireworks are ready to explode on New Year’s Day as the Big Ten University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the Pac 10 University of Southern California Trojans battle in the 94th Rose Bowl Game at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.
“The 2007 season has been an exhilarating display of the parity in college football, on behalf of the Tournament of Roses, we are thrilled to maintain the strong relationship of the Big Ten and Pac-10 with the Rose Bowl Game. We are proud to uphold this tradition and congratulate both universities for their tremendous seasons and achievements in earning a berth to the Rose Bowl Game.” Tournament of Roses Chairman CL Keedy said.
University of Illinois finished the season 9-3 overall, and second in the Big Ten at 7-2. The University of Illinois Illini had key wins over then No. 5 Wisconsin and in Columbus against No. 1 Ohio State. University of Illinois Illini is the only team in the country to defeat the Buckeyes during the 2007 season. The Fighting Illini will be making their fifth appearance in the Rose Bowl Game. They are 3-1 in Rose Bowl Game appearances.
The USC Trojans finished the season 10-2 overall, 7-2 in the Pac-10 with wins over then No. 14 Nebraska and No. 7 Arizona State. They clinched the Pac-10 title in their final game of the season with a victory over UCLA on Dec. 1. The Trojans will be making their thirty-first appearance in the Rose Bowl Game. They are 22-8 in Rose Bowl Game appearances.
University of Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll, who was No. 7 in the BCS rankings, insisted that they were not disappointed to be playing in Pasadena and facing the Illini.
“For us seniors, it will be our last game in college football,” Sedrick Ellis said. “It will be great. We’ve got Illinois and we’re going to make the best of it.”
Trojans head coach Pete Carroll seemed bemused that at the end of a whacky football season across the country, the Rose Bowl will have a traditional matchup of teams from the Pac-10 and Big Ten.
University of Southern California Trojans Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was named the 2007 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and 7 other Trojans were named to the All-Pac-10 first team. University of Southern California Trojans’ 8 first team selections were the most of any school. In all, 18 Southern California Trojans made the All-Pac-10 first team, second team or honorable mention.
California Trojans Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis is USC’s fifth Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, joining linebackers Duane Bickett (1984), Junior Seau (1989) and Chris Claiborne (1998) and defensive tackle Shaun Cody (2004).
University of Southern California Trojans had 5 repeaters on the All-Pac-10 first team. California Trojans Offensive tackle Sam Baker was named for the third consecutive year. Ellis, a unanimous selection in 2007 and California Trojans linebackers Rey Maualuga and California Trojans Keith Rivers repeated from last year. California Trojans Defensive end Lawrence Jackson was a first teamer in 2005.
Sportsbettingindex.net’s choose the University of Southern California Trojans to win the Rose Bowl, with their defense. University of Southern California Trojans will shutdown the running game of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini.
