No Bias Here in His Prediction, Is There?

Former USC receiver John Jackson believes the Trojans will beat Texas in the Rose Bowl game -- his predicted score is 42-27 -- even though the Longhorns think they will win the game.

Jackson, speaking at the Pasadena Quarterbacks Club luncheon Friday, said, “I played for the Arizona Cardinals, so I know what it is to think you’re going to win.”

Logical conclusion: Jackson, asked what NFL team might draft USC’s Matt Leinart, said, “Arizona always needs a quarterback. I can vouch for that.”

Trivia time: What team is 2-0 against USC during the Pete Carroll era?

Not exactly the same: USC running back Reggie Bush is the favorite to take home the Heisman Trophy from New York today.

Also today, the highest bidder can take home the original plaster cast of the Heisman Trophy, created by 23-year-old New York artist Frank Eliscu in 1935.

The plaster cast is among the sports memorabilia items being offered at a New York auction by Sotheby’s and SCP Auctions.

It’s expected to go for between $200,000 and $300,000.

USC historian: Here’s what another former Trojan had to say about Bush:

“Best college football player I’ve ever seen, and I’ve watched college football for 25 years. I’ve spent over 25 years affiliated with the USC program in athletics, all the way back from my ball-boy days and stuffing envelopes in the sports information office to being an All-American and first-round pick.”

Speaking those words on his Sirius Satellite Radio show was Keyshawn Johnson, born July 22, 1972.

Experienced tour guide: Former Trojan Petros Papadakis played in the 1998 Sun Bowl at El Paso, Texas, where USC lost to Texas Christian, 28-19.

UCLA plays Northwestern there Dec. 30.

“It was the only bowl game of my career, so I think it’s only natural as an Angeleno that I offer my services to Dan Guerrero and Karl Dorrell and make the trip to El Paso and show the Bruins around town,” Papadakis said on his 1540 radio show.

Guest Matt Stevens, the Bruins’ radio commentator, said, “Petros, not too many people are trying to get into El Paso. They’re trying to get out.”

How cold was it? Jay Leno, on this week’s “Monday Night Football” game: “It was so cold in Philadelphia, you could see the Philadelphia Eagles’ last dying breath.”

Looking back: On this day in 1999, Laffit Pincay rode Irish Nip to a two-length victory in the sixth race at Hollywood Park for his 8,834th victory, breaking Bill Shoemaker’s 29-year-old record and making him the world’s winningest jockey.

Trivia answer: Kansas State, which beat USC, 10-6, in 2001 and 27-20 in 2002.

And finally: Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, on the outcome of the Rose Bowl game: “First team to 50 ... loses by 14.”

Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.