The Trojans, a healthy 22 - 9 in Rose Bowl games, will roll it out today against Illinois, 3 - 1 in Rose Bowls, including a 45-9 pummeling to the Rick Neuheisel quarterbacked Bruins in 1984.  It will be nice to finally watch the game after weeks of some of the more tired cliches  coming from the midwestern contingent (including, but not limited to: “we’re not respected”, “we’ve got nothing to lose”, ”we’re going to shock the world”). Playmaking WR Ronald Johnson sounds ready to fill in for Patrick Turner if the junior can’t play or is limited with his quad injury: “It gives us a chance to show what we have,” Johnson told the LA Times.  The consensus seems to be that if the Trojans can sufficiently stop the running of QB Juice Williams & Rashard Mendenhall (not an easy task with their size and the performance of their O-line), the Illini won’t be able to pass their way to victory like the Vince Young-led Longhorns and the Dennis Dixon-led Ducks had been able to do against USC in the past. Williams’ inexperience (and his 5 interceptions in his last 5 games) against the experience and power of SC’s D-line should cut against the chances of an Illinois victory. The midnight line is holding strong at 14 points, with most local pundits predicting a score along the lines of USC 34 - Illinois 17.  Here’s some reading material before you head to the game or click on the flat screen.

Trojans’ defense respects but doesn’t fear Illini attack (ESPN)
Return of the Trojans: Hot USC will continue to roll vs. inexperienced Illinois (SI.com)
Illinois’ offensive approach as easy as 1-2-3 (ESPN)
Illini vs. the world (Chicago Sun-Times)
A senior moment for Carroll (LA Times)
USC, Illinois look to stem tide of indifference (LA Times)
Illini embrace underdog role (LA Times)
Draft is next step for some players (LA Times)
Stopping Juice Williams is key for Trojans (LA Times)
In a class by themselves (LA Times)
Scouting report (LA Times)
Whicker column: Carroll learned in his year away from football (Orange County Register)
USC’s offensive weapon: Fred Davis (Orange County Register)
Illinois quarterback bringing some Juice into today’s Rose Bowl (LA Daily News)
Booty: Trojans have no advantage (LA Daily News)
Big Ten pride on the line for Illinois (LA Daily News)
USC puts its glory on the line in today’s Rose Bowl (The Press-Enterprise)
Patton: These Trojans fall short of past Trojans (The Press-Enterprise)