Matchups to watch: the games within the game will determine who wins the war for the roses

USC QB Matt Leinart vs. Texas CBs Cedric Griffin and Tarell Brown

Leinart has developed the habit of starting slowly, often with poorly thrown balls. Griffin and Brown are physical, active corners who gamble when breaking on the ball. Leinart's slow starts haven't hurt USC yet (although one against Norte Dame almost did), but he hasn't faced a secondary with Texas' ability to cover.

Texas QB Vince Young vs. USC LB Rey Maualuga

The Longhorns' offense revolves around Young's ability to run the read option and force defenses to cover the entire field. Ohio State used stud linebacker A.J. Hawk to shadow Young, and he still burned one of the nation's best defenses on the base option play. A freshman, Maualuga has developed quickly into USC's best defensive player, even though he is out of position at times and overruns plays. His ability to corral Young on the option and when he breaks containment will be critical to the Trojans' effort to contain Young and the Longhorns' offense.

Texas WR Limas Sweed vs. USC CB Josh Pinkard

When Young gets in trouble in the passing game, he looks for Sweed, who shields and seals defenders with his 6-5 frame and has outstanding body control when the ball is in the air. Pinkard, a former safety, can't run with Sweed, so he must get physical at the line and knock him off his routes. If Texas can't run consistently, USC will be able to roll a safety to Sweed's side for support in coverage. If Texas runs successfully, USC will have to commit safety help to the line of scrimmage and Pinkard will have problems in man coverage.

USC RB Reggie Bush vs. Texas SS Michael Huff

The Longhorns have to decide where they will take chances defensively. More than likely, they'll force Leinart to beat them with the pass. And that means Huff, a sure tackler with deceptive speed, will playa majority of the game creeping into the front seven to stop the run. Because Bush is so fast, Huff has to take correct angles in pursuit. One missed angle and Bush can turn a 10-yard gain into an 80-yard touchdown.

USC Gs Fred Matua and Taitusi Lutui vs. Texas DTs Frank Okam and Rodrique Wright

This is the key to the game: it's just that simple. If the Trojans can run consistently--that is, if Matua and Lutui are controlling the interior line--it's going to get Oklahoma ugly for Texas. For the most part, the Longhorns have been solid against the run. But solid isn't going to cut it against Bush and LenDale White. Okam, Wright and reserve Larry Dibbles must shoot gaps and disrupt blocking patterns because playing to a draw against Matua and Lutui won't be enough, either.

BLOG ALERT

'Did you see Bush's stop 'n' go against Fresno State? Sick, people, sick. That's an open-field runner.'

--Don't let College Football Insider Matt Hayes head-fake you into agreeing with him on who's the better open-field runner, USC's Reggie Bush or Texas' Vince Young. Run to daylight at sportingnews.com

Head 2 Head

                                                      Rushing yards
         Points    Points allowed    Rushing yards       allowed

Texas     50.9          14.6             273.8            124.4
USC       50.0          21.3             264.2            117.3

                          Passing yards
         Passing yards       allowed       Yards per play

Texas        234.7            155.9             7.1
USC          316.0            227.3             7.5

         Yards allowed
           per play       Total offense    Total offense

Texas         4.1             508.4            280.3
USC           5.0             580.2            344.7

                             Kick return     Punt return
         Kick return avg.    avg. allowed       avg.

Texas          26.9              19.1           15.9
USC            22.2              20.6            8.6

                                                        Third-down
         Punt return                       Time of      conversion
         avg. allowed    Penalty yards    possession       pct.

Texas         7.0            68.2           31:08          .512
USC          17.7            66.4           30:53          .549

           Fourth-down
         conversion pct.    Attendance    Total defense

Texas         .611            83,333          280.3
USC           .630            90,812          344.7

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning