5 Predictions For The USC-UConn Bowl Game
posted by Scott Hood, Friday, January 01, 2010
1. USC Will Have More Rushing Yards Than UConn: USC is averaging 125.0 yards on the ground this season, while UConn’s vaunted ground game is averaging 172.8 ypg. So, why will USC finish with more rushing yards than the Huskies? USC’s defense. I believe UConn will be surprised by the speed they will encounter from USC on Saturday. Sure, the Huskies players have talked about it during interviews, but experiencing it live and in person is an entirely different matter.
2. Stephen Garcia Will Throw For More Than 200 Yards: Garcia needs 267 passing yards to become the third different QB in school history to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season. The other two QB’s to accomplish the feat are Todd Ellis and Steve Taneyhill. Although the UConn secondary is mediocre, Garcia may be hard-pressed to reach 3,000 yards because the Gamecocks will have so much success running he football. I don’t believe Garcia will get enough pass attempts to put up a lot of yards.
3. Shaq Wilson and Eric Norwood Will Combine For At Least 15 Tackles: UConn will likely run the ball at least 70 percent of the time on Saturday. That means USC’s linebackers - Norwood and Wilson - will have chances to make plenty of plays. The duo just happens to be USC’s top two leading tacklers. That’s the way it should be for most defenses. When you linebackers are actiove and making plays, the rest of the defense will follow suit.
4. USC Will Block A Kick: USC is tied for first in the SEC in at least one category - blocked kicks. Both the Gamecocks and Alabama have four blocks this season. Eric Norwood has three blocks by himself, another reason he attained First-Team All-America status. UConn has had two kicks blocked this season. Norwood loves to play special teams, and his attitude has been infectious on the Gamecocks. Norwood could very well get another one on Saturday.
5. Fans At Legion Field Won‘t See The Ghost Of Bear Bryant: Why? Because he’s haunting local establishments around Pasadena, Calif., where Alabama plays Texas on Jan. 7 in the Rose Bowl. But USC fans should expect to hear a few echoes rattling around the 70-year old facility when they walk into the stadium. The upper deck was so dilapidated it was demolished several years ago. Alabama played several games a year at Legion Field until they started massive renovations to Bryant-Denny Stadium in the 1990’s. Legion Field is considered one of college football’s enduring shrines, but this could be the only opportunity for Gamecock fans to watch a game here.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
South Carolina will be seeking the fifth bowl win in school history when they kickoff against Connecticut of the Big East Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham. Here are five things we believe will happen in the game:
1. USC Will Have More Rushing Yards Than UConn: USC is averaging 125.0 yards on the ground this season, while UConn’s vaunted ground game is averaging 172.8 ypg. So, why will USC finish with more rushing yards than the Huskies? USC’s defense. I believe UConn will be surprised by the speed they will encounter from USC on Saturday. Sure, the Huskies players have talked about it during interviews, but experiencing it live and in person is an entirely different matter.
2. Stephen Garcia Will Throw For More Than 200 Yards: Garcia needs 267 passing yards to become the third different QB in school history to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season. The other two QB’s to accomplish the feat are Todd Ellis and Steve Taneyhill. Although the UConn secondary is mediocre, Garcia may be hard-pressed to reach 3,000 yards because the Gamecocks will have so much success running he football. I don’t believe Garcia will get enough pass attempts to put up a lot of yards.
3. Shaq Wilson and Eric Norwood Will Combine For At Least 15 Tackles: UConn will likely run the ball at least 70 percent of the time on Saturday. That means USC’s linebackers - Norwood and Wilson - will have chances to make plenty of plays. The duo just happens to be USC’s top two leading tacklers. That’s the way it should be for most defenses. When you linebackers are actiove and making plays, the rest of the defense will follow suit.
4. USC Will Block A Kick: USC is tied for first in the SEC in at least one category - blocked kicks. Both the Gamecocks and Alabama have four blocks this season. Eric Norwood has three blocks by himself, another reason he attained First-Team All-America status. UConn has had two kicks blocked this season. Norwood loves to play special teams, and his attitude has been infectious on the Gamecocks. Norwood could very well get another one on Saturday.
5. Fans At Legion Field Won‘t See The Ghost Of Bear Bryant: Why? Because he’s haunting local establishments around Pasadena, Calif., where Alabama plays Texas on Jan. 7 in the Rose Bowl. But USC fans should expect to hear a few echoes rattling around the 70-year old facility when they walk into the stadium. The upper deck was so dilapidated it was demolished several years ago. Alabama played several games a year at Legion Field until they started massive renovations to Bryant-Denny Stadium in the 1990’s. Legion Field is considered one of college football’s enduring shrines, but this could be the only opportunity for Gamecock fans to watch a game here.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Previous Blog Entries
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 @.