Wake-Up Call: Rose Bowl, USC, Penn State, Mike Bellotti, Jean-Sebastien Giguere
First things first: Our colleagues at the Allentown Morning Call have made a prediction on Thursday's Rose Bowl. Among their questions leading to the prediction: "Will Penn State stick to the run attack even if Trojans shut it down in first quarter or so? Will the Lions' defense hold USC's explosive running backs somewhat in check? Is SC quarterback Mark Sanchez good for two turnovers?" OK, just because Sanchez had four consecutive turnovers against ASU doesn't mean he coughs up the ball every game. The Trojans won that game anyway. Easily won it. Click on the link above to see their prediction. Wake-up's I-still-need-my-morning-coffee prediction: USC 34, Penn State 17.
Make a note: Kickoff at Thursday's Rose Bowl is at (roughly) 2:10 p.m. on Channel 7 and on AM 710.
Vote, vote, vote: Everyone likes to make a prediction. But let's see who you think might be the star of the Rose Bowl game.
Add college football: Mike Bellotti's Oregon Ducks dominated Oklahoma State in the second half of last night's Holiday Bowl, ending with a 42-31 victory. But the noteworthy thing is how Jeremiah Masoli played. With Cal's win in the Emerald Bowl and Arizona's win in the Las Vegas Bowl, seems like the Pac-10 is doing pretty well in the Bowl season so far.
More ice please: Isn't it sweet that the Ducks' Jean-Sebastien Giguere is in a position to start for the West in the Jan. 25 NHL All-Star game? He is more than deserving and has been so underrated, partly because he plays on the West Coast. And his teammates Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer are doing well in the balloting too. But the Kings' Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar, both of whom are on the ballot, are not yet among the top 10 vote-getters among forwards. Kings fans, where are you? If you haven't yet voted, click here.
At Wrigley Field: The Times' Helene Elliott is in Chicago to report on the NHL Winter Classic. She is at the field today and will be at the game Thursday. Watch for her reports and blogs from the snowy (probably windy too) city.
-- Debbie Goffa
Photo: Joe Paterno, left, and Pete Carroll are ready for the Rose Bowl game. And each wants that trophy. Credit: Ric Francis / Associated Press
Giguere deserves to go to the All-Star Game as do Pronger and Niedermayer but Brown and Kopitar should only attend if they buy a ticket. They are on the ballot because of their play last year, but this season is a different story and they frankly do not deserve to be among the top 10 vote-getters among forwards. Kings fans are here in record numbers as always, no worries there.
Glad to hear that Helene Elliott will be covering the NHL Winter Classic in Chicago. I will have one eye on NBC tomorrow morning at 10 am and another eye reading her blog entries at latimes.com.
Posted by: Andy Davidson | December 31, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Dude, Get your coffee and go back and reconsider. These teams are so evenly well matched, that it won't be lopsided like that. In the history of Penn State bowl games we rarely, if ever have been blown out by any opponent. Remember Heisman trophy winner Marcus Allen in the Fiesta bowl - shut down by Penn State. And Testaverde in 1986 for Miami against Penn State...they lost.
USC may very well win and are expected to...but do not count out Penn State's defense. SC and win if they launch an air attack, sooner or later they'll score...but look out on the ground, and for pressure on Sanchez.
Yeah, I'm a proud Penn Stater living here for 13 years now and waiting for this day. Win or lose, I think it's a good match and a closer score whomever comes out with the win .... now that you've had some coffee - your thoughts?
Posted by: Steve | December 31, 2008 at 01:05 PM