First, I want to say that I was for USC for most of the season, but now I want Oklahoma to win after Leinart's snobby attitude at the Heisman ceremony which contrasted VERY sharply with Jason White's. All previous Heisman winners get to vote for the Heisman for the rest of their lives. Therefore, White got to vote this year. Someone (Kirk, I believe) asked him how he handled the situation, and White responded, "I'm not going to say whom I voted for, but I didn't vote for myself." Kirk asked him why he didn't vote for himself. He thought for a second, and responded with his slow southern voice, "Well, I thought that there were players out there that are better than me." Leinart, on the other hand, was pretty arrogant. Jason White has little chance of a pro career, and came back with one goal: to avenge last year's collapse. Sure, USC has something to prove as well after being shut out of the BCS title game, but at least they got a share, and Oklahoma embarrassed themselves. Oklahoma is on a mission. This is part of why I think Oklahoma will win. But now, let's turn to the on-the-field reasons why Oklahoma will win.
USC returned 3 offensive starters from last year, and Oklahoma returned 9. I don't believe that USC's offense will be able to do much against OU. USC has a rookie o-line while OU has a killer d-line. This will be a mismatch. White and Leinart are equal for all practical purposes. However, Peterson alone has rushed for more yards than Lendale White and Reggie Bush combined, and the Oklahoma receivers destroy USC's. Both teams have had their close games, but after watching Texas Tech, a middle of the pack Big XII team, destroy Cal in the Holiday Bowl, the Big XII is looking stronger than the Pac 10. Cal had a letdown, sure, but you have to look at that. Oklahoma's defense was suspect against OSU and Texas A and M, but since then their best DB, Antonio Perkins, has come back from an injury and they burned the redshirt of a stud freshman DB. They have allowed only 6 points in the last 3 games with Perkins and the freshman in at DB.
This is Oklahoma's year. They, like USC, are nasty on both sides of the ball. However, unlike USC, they have a stud line on both offense and defense, top receivers, and arguably the best running game in the country all at the same time, with Peterson and Jones.
I think Auburn would beat either team, but in the national title game, Oklahoma will prove superior.