Five Predictions For The USC-UNC Game
posted by Scott Hood on Friday, October 12, 2007
1. CHRIS SMELLEY WILL THROW FOR AT LEAST 250 YARDS: Chris Smelley is getting more and more comfortable as the starting quarterback for USC. The two fourth-quarter TD drives against Kentucky last Thursday is how reputations are built. UNC will start as many as three freshmen in the secondary in Saturday’s game. I’m sure Smelley and Spurrier are licking their chops. Smelley has thrown for 709 yards in the last 10 quarters, an average of 283.6 yards per game, including 279 yards against Mississippi State and 256 in the win over Kentucky. UNC is surrendering 211.8 passing yards per game. USC is 15-8 under Spurrier when it throws for more than 200 yards. Those kind of numbers make Spurrier smile.
2. UNC WILL CONVERT LESS THAN 30 PERCENT OF THIRD DOWNS: USC is one of the top defenses in the country when it comes to stopping opponents on third down. The Gamecocks are allowing just 25.9 percent (22-of-85) of third-down plays by foes to succeed. Conversely, UNC is converting just 33.0 percent (27-of-81) of third down opportunities. Looks like the Tar Heel punter will be pretty busy on Saturday.
3. WESLYE SAUNDERS WILL SCORE A TD: USC’s freshman tight end nearly had his first career touchdown last week early in the game against Kentucky. But the ball was stripped and went through the back of the end zone for a touchback. Saunders vowed it would never happen again. He also said it was sign from above that he should score his first career TD against the hometown Tar Heels. You know what, I believe him. It’s time for Saunders to break into the scoring column.
4. USC’S SPECIAL TEAMS WILL SCORE A TD: USC has come agonizingly close to breaking through and scoring a special teams touchdown in the last few weeks. Chris Culliver has broken off a pair of 44-yard kickoff returns. Captain Munnerlyn had a punt return for a touchdown called back because of a penalty in the Mississippi State game. Eric Norwood blocked a punt in the MSU win. USC’s special teams have substantially improved over last season. The time for the first special teams TD in the Spurrier era getting closer.
5. USC WILL POSE FOR A TEAM PHOTO AFTER THE GAME: Spurrier called for a team photo underneath the scoreboard after his Duke squad routed North Carolina, 41-0, in the final regular season game of the 1989 season. UNC fans have been irate ever since, vowing revenge against the HBC. Of course, none of the players on the current UNC team were more than three or four years old at the time, meaning Tar Heels fans will have to seethe in the stands. Once USC polishes off the probable win on Saturday, look for Spurrier to have the Gamecocks pose for a team photo on the field while Gamecock fans chant ‘We Are Carolina!” Hey, it will give UNC fans another reason to be upset.
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I’m already on record as saying South Carolina will handily defeat North Carolina in Saturday’s game at Chapel Hill. Here’s how they do it. My Five Predictions for Saturday’s game:
1. CHRIS SMELLEY WILL THROW FOR AT LEAST 250 YARDS: Chris Smelley is getting more and more comfortable as the starting quarterback for USC. The two fourth-quarter TD drives against Kentucky last Thursday is how reputations are built. UNC will start as many as three freshmen in the secondary in Saturday’s game. I’m sure Smelley and Spurrier are licking their chops. Smelley has thrown for 709 yards in the last 10 quarters, an average of 283.6 yards per game, including 279 yards against Mississippi State and 256 in the win over Kentucky. UNC is surrendering 211.8 passing yards per game. USC is 15-8 under Spurrier when it throws for more than 200 yards. Those kind of numbers make Spurrier smile.
2. UNC WILL CONVERT LESS THAN 30 PERCENT OF THIRD DOWNS: USC is one of the top defenses in the country when it comes to stopping opponents on third down. The Gamecocks are allowing just 25.9 percent (22-of-85) of third-down plays by foes to succeed. Conversely, UNC is converting just 33.0 percent (27-of-81) of third down opportunities. Looks like the Tar Heel punter will be pretty busy on Saturday.
3. WESLYE SAUNDERS WILL SCORE A TD: USC’s freshman tight end nearly had his first career touchdown last week early in the game against Kentucky. But the ball was stripped and went through the back of the end zone for a touchback. Saunders vowed it would never happen again. He also said it was sign from above that he should score his first career TD against the hometown Tar Heels. You know what, I believe him. It’s time for Saunders to break into the scoring column.
4. USC’S SPECIAL TEAMS WILL SCORE A TD: USC has come agonizingly close to breaking through and scoring a special teams touchdown in the last few weeks. Chris Culliver has broken off a pair of 44-yard kickoff returns. Captain Munnerlyn had a punt return for a touchdown called back because of a penalty in the Mississippi State game. Eric Norwood blocked a punt in the MSU win. USC’s special teams have substantially improved over last season. The time for the first special teams TD in the Spurrier era getting closer.
5. USC WILL POSE FOR A TEAM PHOTO AFTER THE GAME: Spurrier called for a team photo underneath the scoreboard after his Duke squad routed North Carolina, 41-0, in the final regular season game of the 1989 season. UNC fans have been irate ever since, vowing revenge against the HBC. Of course, none of the players on the current UNC team were more than three or four years old at the time, meaning Tar Heels fans will have to seethe in the stands. Once USC polishes off the probable win on Saturday, look for Spurrier to have the Gamecocks pose for a team photo on the field while Gamecock fans chant ‘We Are Carolina!” Hey, it will give UNC fans another reason to be upset.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.