PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Bowl Total of the Week ~ PERFECT 5-0 Run with Bowl Totals!
(NCAAF) USF vs. South Carolina,
Total: 62.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 62.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
The set-up: Willie Taggart did such a good job in his stint at USF that after this year's 10-2 regular season, he departed for Oregon. However, 25th-ranked South Florida still has plenty to play for when it faces 6-6 South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Thursday afternoon at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
South Florida: The Bulls will be led by wide receivers coach T.J. Weist but new head coach Charlie Strong will be evaluating his squad. Junior QB Quinton Flowers, the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, will also be looking to get a jump-start on the 2017 Heisman Trophy race. Flowers passed for 2,551 yards with 22 TDs and just six INTs, plus led USF in rushing with 1,425 yards on 8.1 YPC with 15 TDs. He's one of just three players in the nation to both pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards this season. RB Mack added 1,137 yards on 7.1 YPC and also scored 15 TDs. The team ran for 292.2 YPG (5th) on 6.7 YPC, leading the way for an offense which averaged 43.6 PPG (7th). The Bulls haven't been nearly as consistent on the defensive side of the ball, having allowed at least 500 total yards in four of their last five games, ending the regular season allowing 482.3 YPG (120th) and 31.0 PPG (86th).
South Carolina: The Gamecocks had to win four of their last six games to become bowl eligible but enter off a 56-7 'spanking' at Clemson. Still, the Gamecocks have doubled their win total in Muschamp's first campaign in Columbia. They start start seven true freshmen including QB Jake Bentley, who took over in late October and led the team to that 4-2 finish. He's thrown for 1,030 yards with only six TDs but also just two INTs. The running game averages only 138.0 YPG (3.8 YPC) to rank 106th for an offense averaging just 19.2 PPG (122nd). However, South Carolina can trust its defense, one allowing 24.8 PPG (44th) while ranking 10th nationally in turnovers gained (25).
The pick: USF is obviously the more explosive team and likely the way better team. However, the coaching transition for USF may not be quite as smooth as other situations, as several assistants are on their way to Oregon and those that remain are unlikely to be kept on by Charlie Strong. That means the awkwardness of some of the guys in charge of game planning having are also shopping their resumes and thinking about other matters at this rather busy hiring/firing period. South Carolina has notable wins over Tennessee (24-21), Vanderbilt (13-10) and Missouri (31-21) plus also defeated East Carolina of the AAC, 20-15. The Gamecocks are bowl-eligible for the 12th time in 13 seasons and have won their last four bowl games and only Marshall's five-game winning streak in bowl games is longer. Look for teh South Carolina defense to keep the Gamecocks in this one making the Under a 10* play.
South Florida: The Bulls will be led by wide receivers coach T.J. Weist but new head coach Charlie Strong will be evaluating his squad. Junior QB Quinton Flowers, the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, will also be looking to get a jump-start on the 2017 Heisman Trophy race. Flowers passed for 2,551 yards with 22 TDs and just six INTs, plus led USF in rushing with 1,425 yards on 8.1 YPC with 15 TDs. He's one of just three players in the nation to both pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards this season. RB Mack added 1,137 yards on 7.1 YPC and also scored 15 TDs. The team ran for 292.2 YPG (5th) on 6.7 YPC, leading the way for an offense which averaged 43.6 PPG (7th). The Bulls haven't been nearly as consistent on the defensive side of the ball, having allowed at least 500 total yards in four of their last five games, ending the regular season allowing 482.3 YPG (120th) and 31.0 PPG (86th).
South Carolina: The Gamecocks had to win four of their last six games to become bowl eligible but enter off a 56-7 'spanking' at Clemson. Still, the Gamecocks have doubled their win total in Muschamp's first campaign in Columbia. They start start seven true freshmen including QB Jake Bentley, who took over in late October and led the team to that 4-2 finish. He's thrown for 1,030 yards with only six TDs but also just two INTs. The running game averages only 138.0 YPG (3.8 YPC) to rank 106th for an offense averaging just 19.2 PPG (122nd). However, South Carolina can trust its defense, one allowing 24.8 PPG (44th) while ranking 10th nationally in turnovers gained (25).
The pick: USF is obviously the more explosive team and likely the way better team. However, the coaching transition for USF may not be quite as smooth as other situations, as several assistants are on their way to Oregon and those that remain are unlikely to be kept on by Charlie Strong. That means the awkwardness of some of the guys in charge of game planning having are also shopping their resumes and thinking about other matters at this rather busy hiring/firing period. South Carolina has notable wins over Tennessee (24-21), Vanderbilt (13-10) and Missouri (31-21) plus also defeated East Carolina of the AAC, 20-15. The Gamecocks are bowl-eligible for the 12th time in 13 seasons and have won their last four bowl games and only Marshall's five-game winning streak in bowl games is longer. Look for teh South Carolina defense to keep the Gamecocks in this one making the Under a 10* play.
