After looking at a few clempson games this year and all of ours, Here is what I think is clear of each team:
Offensive line
- Advantage USC
Even though we have been inconsistent, we have more guys who have played longer and are noticeably bigger than their Offensive Line.
Running Backs - Tie
This is assuming Ellington is healthy, but Miles is a steady workhorse with Davis having a chance for a monster game should the coaching staff feel he will not turn the ball over. We have had a lot of injury here this year, with Wilds being redshirted, Carson being injured before the season and of course, Lattimore.
Their strength is not in the depth of Running Back, but in the speed.
Wide Receivers - Advantage clempson
Hopkins, Watkins, and Humphries are all pretty good, sad to say. They get open, and tend to catch the ball well.
This is actually where I think we can win the game handily, however. clempson has been beat early and often by teams going down the middle deep. A healthy Ellington, Ace, or Byrd could burn these guys. We absolutely cannot have dropped balls when these opportunities come, because they will come. Even though this is a place I give them the advantage, I think it will be the defining factor for our win.
Tight Ends - Advantage USC
Let’s be honest, we have trouble knowing who to start…
Quarterback - Advantage USC
Shaw has beaten clempson before, while Boyd has not beaten us. Boyd is much improved this year, specifically in the area of being able to run the ball. He lost a lot of weight and got quicker, but he still has to deal with guys that will be in his backfield all day long. Containment of him and not allowing him to be comfortable will be our biggest assets.
Defense - (All positions) Advantage USC
I don’t really think we need to go into depth here.
Special Teams - Advantage clempson
Again, I doubt I really need to go into depth here.
Location - Advantage clempson
Let’s face it, we haven’t been a great road team. But this isn’t a “normal” road game. There will probably be a 70/30 split of clempson/USC fans there, and it’s not like its a big flight to Louisiana or anything. But the crowd can get rowdy, especially against us. And with their ability to score, they tend to be very difficult to take out of the game, unless you really just start dominating. So hopefully we can negate this early on by some key plays.
Final prediction: This year’s contest is closer than any in recent memory, with the Gamecocks winning by a field goal. clempson will trail in the 4th but make a comeback before falling short.
USC 31, cpu 28
Offensive line
- Advantage USC
Even though we have been inconsistent, we have more guys who have played longer and are noticeably bigger than their Offensive Line.
Running Backs - Tie
This is assuming Ellington is healthy, but Miles is a steady workhorse with Davis having a chance for a monster game should the coaching staff feel he will not turn the ball over. We have had a lot of injury here this year, with Wilds being redshirted, Carson being injured before the season and of course, Lattimore.
Their strength is not in the depth of Running Back, but in the speed.
Wide Receivers - Advantage clempson
Hopkins, Watkins, and Humphries are all pretty good, sad to say. They get open, and tend to catch the ball well.
This is actually where I think we can win the game handily, however. clempson has been beat early and often by teams going down the middle deep. A healthy Ellington, Ace, or Byrd could burn these guys. We absolutely cannot have dropped balls when these opportunities come, because they will come. Even though this is a place I give them the advantage, I think it will be the defining factor for our win.
Tight Ends - Advantage USC
Let’s be honest, we have trouble knowing who to start…
Quarterback - Advantage USC
Shaw has beaten clempson before, while Boyd has not beaten us. Boyd is much improved this year, specifically in the area of being able to run the ball. He lost a lot of weight and got quicker, but he still has to deal with guys that will be in his backfield all day long. Containment of him and not allowing him to be comfortable will be our biggest assets.
Defense - (All positions) Advantage USC
I don’t really think we need to go into depth here.
Special Teams - Advantage clempson
Again, I doubt I really need to go into depth here.
Location - Advantage clempson
Let’s face it, we haven’t been a great road team. But this isn’t a “normal” road game. There will probably be a 70/30 split of clempson/USC fans there, and it’s not like its a big flight to Louisiana or anything. But the crowd can get rowdy, especially against us. And with their ability to score, they tend to be very difficult to take out of the game, unless you really just start dominating. So hopefully we can negate this early on by some key plays.
Final prediction: This year’s contest is closer than any in recent memory, with the Gamecocks winning by a field goal. clempson will trail in the 4th but make a comeback before falling short.
USC 31, cpu 28
