NCAA FOOTBALL BET

To defeat one of the greatest offenses in college history, UCLA will have to put on a show of its own

Dec. 1, 2005

By Bodog.com
BodogNation Contributing Writer

No. 11 UCLA (9-1) at No.1 USC (11-0)

The USC Trojans may be the greatest offense in college football history.

With a 3,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard rushers, nearly two 1,000-yard receivers (WR Steve Smith is 100 yards short of the plateau) and no glaring weaknesses, the Trojans are the college version of the Indianapolis Colts, putting up numbers that would make their basketball program proud. But there is another L.A. team that may have the offensive skills to roll with the Trojans and this Saturday they plan on fighting fire with fire, touchdown with touchdown, Matt Leinart with Drew Olson.

Well have a chance to show people who we are. Im not sure many people out there know, UCLA senior quarterback Drew Olson told the Associated Press.

Its one thing for college fans to be unaware of the threat the Bruins pose, another for the Trojans to be unwitting. The Bruins have been riding shotgun in the Pac-10 with a 9-1 record while putting up 40.0 ppg. And Olson has been leading the nation in QB efficiency at 172.47 percent, outgunning L.A.s favorite Leinart with 30 touchdowns and only three interceptions (Leinart has 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions).

Drew struggled last year, but this year Im like, What the hell got into him? UCLA tailback Chris Markey said to the L.A. Daily News. Everything he does, you can tell hes taken this team under his wing. As a senior, he wants this Pac-10 title. He is definitely leading this team. I dont know what got into him, but I like it.

His equally Heisman numbers set up a rumble at the Coliseum that the city of L.A. has been anticipating since the 29-24 nailbiter that Leinart survived against UCLA on Dec. 4, 2004.

In that game, UCLA came in as a double-digit underdog as it does this Saturday with injuries at running back, but kept the game surprisingly close with second-half touchdown drives from Olson. In the end, Leinart and the Trojans relied on two long touchdown runs from superback Reggie Bush to seal the game and a trip to the Orange Bowl.

This time, Olson will have healthy handoff options of his own because of first-team, All-Pac-10 tailback Maurice Drew.

Maurice is an overall better running back than both those [USC] guys, linebacker Spencer Havner boldly stated to the L.A. Daily News. Im serious about that. He has the speed of Reggie and he runs inside and has power like LenDale White.

But make no mistake, facing a team that has the 46th-ranked defense in pass efficiency (119.76) and total defense (351 yards per game), UCLA plans to go all out and challenge the potent Trojans in a shootout.

They can be tested, Olson said to the L.A. Daily News. They definitely can be tested.

Florida State (7-4) at No. 5 Virginia Tech (10-1)

With a mediocre ACC record of 5-3 (7-4 overall) many dont feel the Seminoles have a chance of beating the Hokies. But with an unexpected 27-7 loss to Miami on its record, Virginia Teach doesnt plan on taking any chances.

Theyve got great talent, great coaches and great history and theyre going to be jacked, Hokies defensive end Darryl Tapp, commenting on Florida State, said to the AP. This little skid theyve had Im not for sure about that. They could just be playing with everyones head.

And with a chance to get a hold of the inaugural ACC championship and knock the Hokies out of BCS contention, the Seminoles have a lot to get amped for come Saturday night.

At FSU, we used to win the ACC every year without a championship game. Now we get to have a championship game to try and win a championship, Seminoles tight end Matt Henshaw said to the AP. With a win, it would really turn the season around. A lot of people would forget about the three losses that we have if we are able to go out there and take care of business on Saturday.

Colorado (7-4) at No. 2 Texas (11-0)

The Rose Bowl is just a Colorado blowout away for the Longhorns, but if they look ahead like theyve done in the past, it could all slip away.

In the 2001 Big 12 championship, the Longhorns were in the same situation: up against a Colorado team they had pummeled in the regular season only to lose the game (39-37), their pride, and a shot at the BCS championship.

The pressure is on to get it done Saturday.

When you have fans saying, I got my Rose Bowl tickets already, that puts pressure on you, but we have to stay focused, Texas quarterback Vince Young said to the AP this week. Were so close, we can smell the Rose right now.

Note: All times Eastern; all lines subject to change

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