2009 Rose Bowl: By the Numbers

1/1/2009 means it is time for USC and Penn State to meet in the Rose Bowl. What do the numbers say about the match up between the Nittany Lions and Trojans?

2, the number of USC opponents that exceeded 300 yards total offense this season
4, the number of Penn State opponents that exceeded 300 yards total offense this season
The Trojans defense has received accolades and rightfully so, as only Oregon State and Stanford managed to score multiple touchdowns this season. Six opponents never crossed the goal line.

At the same time, Penn State ranks in the top 12 nationally in every key defensive category.

Where’s the love for Maybin, et al.? Ask the folks at ESPN.

41,728, the approximate number of promos for the Rose Bowl ESPN has aired
Speak of the Devil.

If promos equaled importance, this would be your BCS title game and the Florida-Georgia tilt would fall somewhere behind the PapaJohns.com Bowl.

Even Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark took notice, saying “I haven’t even heard nothing about the national championship game.”

3, the number of times the Big Ten and Pac-10 champions have met in the Rose Bowl between 2000 and 2008
In that same time span, four Big XII teams have visited the Arroyo Seco.

10 touchdown receptions by wide receiver Patrick Turner, the only senior offensive starter for USC
Assuming quarterback Mark Sanchez returns for his final season of eligibility, the Trojans should return all but one player on their offensive two-deep next season.

Not bad for a unit that averaged 37.5 points per game this season, but USC players are ignoring talk about 2009.

“There’s always potential,” USC guard Jeff Byers said. “Potential doesn’t mean anything. We don’t have to worry about next year because we can prove it Jan. 1.”

265 yards rushing by Clark this season
459 yards passing by former Penn State QB Pat Devlin this season
The ill-timed transfer of Devlin leaves just senior Paul Cianciolo and wide receiver Derrick Williams to back up Clark.

“Durability throughout the game is key, I don’t want to take any big hits,” Clark said.

Expect the Lions to reduce or eliminate designed runs by Clark and place an emphasis on making sure he avoids big hits.

Given the Trojans’ past history of struggling with mobile quarterbacks, Devlin might have the game’s biggest impact without ever setting foot in Pasadena.

1,421 pounds of prime rib consumed by USC and Penn State in the annual Lawry’s Beef Bowl
1,480 pounds, the total weight of USC’s starting offensive line
1,507 pounds, the total weight of Penn State’s starting offensive line
Don’t confuse multiple trips to the famed silver serving carts with dominant line play, as the Trojans and Lions each finished in the top 17 nationally in rushing offense and allowed just 29 total sacks.

“They’re a lot like our [line],” Byers said. “They move and they get to the second level.”

36-16, the record of mythical Beef Bowl champions in the Rose Bowl
USC edged Penn State by 21 pounds in the 53rd installment of the Beef Bowl. Good news for the Men of Troy, right?

Not necessarily, as Carroll’s three Rose Bowl wins over Big Ten foes came after being out eaten by Michigan twice and Illinois last year.

0-3, the Big Ten’s record in bowl games thus far
2000, the last time the Big Ten won the Rose Bowl
Got to win one sooner than later, right?

40-15, this writer’s record in picking Pac-10 games in 2008
Instead of a New Year’s resolution, here’s to starting off 1-0 for 2009.
USC 34, Penn State 13