Our writers' predictions for the second half

	Are Rodrique Wright and the Longhorns Pasadena-bound? Our writers think so. Bob Rosato/SI

SI.com's college football gang of Stewart Mandel, B.J. Schecter, Cory McCartney and Mark Beech offer their personal prognostications for the second half.

BCS Projections

Mandel:
Rose: USC vs. Texas
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Notre Dame
Sugar: Alabama vs. Louisville
Fiesta: Penn State vs. Texas Tech

Schecter:
Rose: USC vs. Texas
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Michigan State
Sugar: Alabama vs. Louisville 
Fiesta: Penn State vs. LSU

McCartney:
Rose: USC vs. Texas
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Louisville
Sugar: Alabama vs. Penn State
Fiesta: Notre Dame vs. Florida State

Beech:
Rose: USC vs. Texas
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Notre Dame
Sugar: Alabama vs. Louisville
Fiesta: Penn State vs. Florida State

Second-half surprise team

Mandel: Fresno State. The Bulldogs, whose sole loss was by three at Oregon, will be 8-1 -- including a win over three-time defending WAC champ Boise State -- headed into their Nov. 19 game at USC.

Schecter: Baylor. The Bears are riding high after ending their Big 12 road losing streak at 37 with a victory at Iowa State last week. The only remaining game on Baylor's schedule that isn't winnable is at home against Texas on Nov. 5, which means the Bears could be headed for their first bowl in 11 years.

McCartney: Clemson. The Tigers' three losses have been by six, three and four points. Charlie Whitehurst & Co. could win five of their last six games (outside of a date with Florida State).

Beech: Colorado. The Buffs' 41-20 drubbing of Texas A&M on Saturday was the start of something special. While they will be hard-pressed to win at Texas this weekend, I think they have a good chance to run the table after that and set up a rematch with the 'Horns in the Big 12 title game.

Second-half flop team

Mandel: Michigan State. I love Drew Stanton and the spread offense, but the Spartans' porous defense will cost them at least three games.

Schecter: Virginia. The Cavs began the season with so much promise, but a loss to Florida State on Saturday will drop them to 3-3. And with remaining games against Virginia Tech and Miami, Virginia will be lucky to finish in the middle of the ACC.

McCartney: Florida. The way the Gators are struggling to grasp the spread option, their dismantling at the hands of Alabama's defense could easily repeat itself against LSU, Georgia and Florida State.

Beech: Texas Tech. After toying with cupcakes in their first three wins, the Red Raiders have beaten Kansas (big deal) and squeaked past Nebraska. They'll have a much tougher time against Texas and surprising Baylor in the next two weeks. Maybe Cody Hodges & Co. will prove me wrong, but at this point, I'm not convinced.

Heisman Trophy winner

Mandel: Reggie Bush, RB, USC. As long as USC keeps winning, the trophy will stay in Heritage Hall, and, no matter how well reigning winner Matt Leinart does, he's destined to get upstaged by Mr. 8.5-yards-per-carry.

Schecter: Bush. He is the best -- and most electrifying -- player in the country. Hands down.

McCartney: Bush. He's among a trio of Trojan candidates (along with Leinart and LenDale White), but with 972 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns, he's the only player on his team -- or any other -- who has the ability to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.

Beech: Matt Leinart, QB, USC. I expect the Trojans to win out, and I expect their quarterback to play well along the way.