HOW THEY MATCH UP: NO. 1 USC VS. NO. 2 TEXAS

USC RUN OFFENSE VS. TEXAS RUN DEFENSE

* Reggie Bush and LenDale White each rushed for more than 1,175 yards and both gained at least 6.7 yards a carry. White led the Pacific 10 Conference in touchdowns with 23 and Bush added 18. They run behind a line that features three Pacific 10 Conference first-team players in center Ryan Kalil, guard Taitusi Lutui and tackle Sam Baker. Fullbacks David Kirtman and Brandon Hancock are also solid for the Trojans. Texas relies on tackle Rodrique Wright and end Tim Crowder to help control the line of scrimmage, leaving safeties Michael Griffin and Michael Huff and linebacker Aaron Harris to make the bulk of tackles. Rashad Bobino and Robert Killebrew are quick young linebackers who like to make big plays. Opponents have had some success running against the Longhorns, who gave up 124.4 yards a game on the ground.

* Edge: USC

(Offensive line strength).

USC PASS OFFENSE VS. TEXAS PASS DEFENSE

* Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy last season and passed for more yards this season with 3,450 to go along with 27 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions. But Leinart has struggled with inconsistency, especially in the Trojans’ final two regular-season games when he missed throws that he normally completes. Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are big-play wide receivers and tight ends Dominique Byrd and Fred Davis are reliable. The Longhorn secondary, which ranks fifth nationally against the pass, is stacked with fundamentally sound players. Cornerbacks Cedric Griffin, Tarell Brown and Aaron Ross do not make many mistakes, and Huff and Michael Griffin make up one of the best safety tandems in the country.

* Edge: USC

(Leinart’s experience in big games).

TEXAS PASS OFFENSE VS. USC PASS DEFENSE

* Heading into the bowl season, Vince Young led the nation in passing efficiency and was ninth in total yards per game. Young, who has completed at least two touchdown passes in nine of 11 games this season, loves to throw to tight end Dave Thomas, the team’s leading receiver. Wideout Limas Sweed has great size and good speed, and slot receiver Billy Pittman is a difference maker. Young also does a good job of getting the ball to his running backs and keeping plays alive when his protection breaks down. USC’s secondary, which was hit hard by injuries, gave up a lot of yards and big plays during the regular season. But the Trojans have improved with the emergence of Josh Pinkard at cornerback and are healthier with the return of Kevin Thomas. Starting corner Justin Wyatt has given up more than his share of completions, but safeties Darnell Bing and Scott Ware do a good job of covering mistakes.

* Edge: Texas

(Young’s big-play ability).

TEXAS RUN OFFENSE VS. USC RUN DEFENSE

* The Longhorns feature a four-man rotation at running back with Ramonce Taylor, Jamaal Charles, Selvin Young and Henry Melton. Although Vince Young led the team in rushing, Taylor and Charles stepped up with 11 touchdowns each on the ground. The X-factor for the Longhorns is Melton, a 270-pound freshman who added 10 rushing touchdowns. Texas tackles Justin Blalock and Jonathan Scott and guard Will Allen were All Big 12 Conference selections who take pride in their run blocking. USC linebackers Oscar Lua and Rey Maualuga are solid against the run. Nose tackle Sedrick Ellis plays a key role in clogging up the middle and Trojan safeties Bing and Ware are major hitters who helped limit opponents to 117.3 yards rushing a game, second best in the Pac-10.

* Edge: Texas

(Young’s big-play ability).

SPECIAL TEAMS

* Bush is an electrifying returner, but he has not had a consistent year. Bush is averaging only 9.9 yards a punt return, sixth in the Pac-10, and 17 yards a kickoff return, which does not make the conference top 10. Texas senior Richmond McGee does not punt often, but he’s good at keeping the ball away from talented returners. USC punter Tom Malone had an injury-plagued season and averaged 41.7 yards a kick for USC, which had the worst punt coverage unit in the Pac-10. The Trojans gave up 17.7 yards a return; Texas led the Big 12 in punt return average at 15.9 a return. The Longhorns also have the nation’s third-best kickoff return unit at 26.9 yards a return. USC kicker Mario Danelo attempted only 11 field goals and made 10 during the regular season. His Texas counterpart, David Pino, tried 15, making 12.

* Edge: Texas

(Kicking experience)

COACHING

* USC’s Carroll, who also serves as defensive coordinator, has done it all over the last five years. He has a 54-9 record, including a 52-4 mark after a 2-5 start. Carroll’s ability to keep his team focused has helped the Trojans win a Pac-10 record 34 consecutive games and three consecutive BCS bowl games. Offensive co-coordinators Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian are young but solid in getting the Trojans committed to the game plan. Texas Coach Mack Brown has led his team to 19 consecutive victories, including a win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl last year. Brown has led the Longhorns to eight consecutive bowl appearances and victories in three of their last four postseason games. He is the only coach to lead Texas to consecutive 11-win seasons. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis has worked together with Brown in creating an attack built around Vince Young. Co-defensive coordinator Gene Chizik coached at Auburn and lost twice to USC and Carroll.

* Edge: USC

(Longer winning streak).

INTANGIBLES

* After two easy victories over Hawaii and Arkansas to open the season, USC played a brutal schedule that included difficult road games at Oregon, Arizona State and Notre Dame. The Trojans ability to take on a different challenge every game makes them battle tested. But so are the Longhorns, who have not lost since Oklahoma defeated them, 12-0, in early October of last season. Texas’ biggest win this season came at Ohio State in September. Since then, the Longhorns have not really been tested by a quality team.

* Edge: USC

(tougher schedule).

LONNIE WHITE’S PREDICTION

* USC will have a difficult time slowing down Young, who has the speed and size to make plays against the Trojans’ attacking defense. But the experience the Trojans gained playing in difficult circumstances this season will give them an edge. Texas has also played under pressure this season, but the Longhorns have not been forced to make many adjustments. In a game between two equal teams, that will prove to be the difference.

* USC 38, Texas 34.