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USC, Michigan look to take out frustration in Rose Bowl

Jan 1, 2007 - 2:57 PM No. 8 USC (10-2) at No. 3 Michigan (11-1) January 1 Rose Bowl 4:30 pm EST

PASADENA, California (Ticker) -- Both Southern California and Michigan will be playing in the Rose Bowl for the third time in four seasons Monday. Neither one is particularly giddy to be doing so.

In a matchup of teams that narrowly missed out on berths in the BCS championship game, the eighth-ranked Trojans take on the third-ranked Wolverines in "The Granddaddy of Them All."

Ranked second for much of the season, Michigan won its first 11 games before losing its regular-season finale at top-ranked Big Ten Conference rival Ohio State, 42-39, on November 18.

The Wolverines did not drop in the BCS standings after the defeat, but were leapfrogged by No. 3 USC after the Trojans waxed Notre Dame a week later.

Merely needing to beat middling UCLA in their finale to clinch a spot against the Buckeyes in the title game, the Trojans were stunned by the Bruins on December 2, 13-9.

Michigan thought it would be the beneficiary of USC's defeat, but watched helplessly as No. 4 Florida moved up two spots in the final BCS standings after the Gators beat Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

"It's a great challenge that we have against a terrific team and you have to get into it, you have to go for it or you won't have a chance," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "It is kind of interesting that both teams are in a similar situation and I'm always trying to figure out who as the edge on this deal, and I think it could be equal. We're ready to go, we're excited about it and pumped up and worked like crazy to get to ready for this game."

"If you're not excited about playing in the Rose Bowl, playing against a team like USC, representing the Big Ten in the greatest tradition in college football, something is missing," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.

Still, few would have expected the Wolverines would come within a few points of an undefeated regular season, especially coming on the heels of a 7-5 campaign - the team's worst since 1984.

Michigan is led offensively by running back Mike Hart and quarterback Chad Henne, a fellow junior, but the key to the team's success this season has been the Wolverines' defense, which shut down every opponent but the Buckeyes. Paced by senior end LaMarr Woodley and junior tackle Alan Branch, the Wolverines led the nation in rushing defense (43.0).

USC won the Pac-10 Conference for a record fifth straight year, an impressive accomplishment considering the team lost the past two Heisman Trophy winners, quarterback Matt Leinart and tailback Reggie Bush.

The Trojans, who posted impressive non-conference wins over SEC West champion Arkansas, Big 12 North winner Nebraska and the Fighting Irish, received a solid season from junior John David Booty, who replaced Leinart and threw for 2,956 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions.

Carr is particularly concerned with Trojan receivers Dwayne Jarrett, an All-American, and Steve Smith. One of the duo, likely Jarrett, will be matched up against All-American senior cornerback Leon Hall.

"I think they are as good as any pair we've faced," Carr told the Detroit Free Press. "Smith is an incredible football player. Jarrett is as talented as anyone we've played against. What they do offensively is find a way to get those two the ball."

"With all the receivers we have, it's going to be hard to cover just one main receiver," Jarrett said. "We have a lot of great receivers and then our running backs are definitely going to be healthy, so I think it's going to be a challenge to try and stop our offense. They have a great defense, but I think we have too many weapons."

Behind Leinart, USC cruised past Michigan in the 2004 Rose Bowl, 28-14. The Wolverines were edged by Texas here the following year, 38-37, while the Trojans were nipped by the Longhorns for the national championship here last year, 41-38.

USC has won two straight matchups and five of the last six against Michigan. The Trojans lead the all-time series, 5-4.