I watched the Gamecocks last week. They didn't look all that good. In fact, they were very fortunate to get the W. On the flip side, UK hasn't won a road game in the last 22 attempts. Um, that's not good. But, do they have enough to beat the spread? Spurrier let off the gas during last year's game, and UK won. He may want to prove something tomorrow. Anyway, what do ya got on this one?
Bettors- assistance required. UK is -8 at USCjr.
- Thread starter CardX
- Start date
ESPN Insider Pickcenter which uses TeamRankings and Numberfire rankings to simulate the games predicts the following.
Team Rankings predicts:
USCjr - 32.5
UK - 22.3
Numberfire projects:
USCjr - 36.3
UK - 27.3
I'm not sure. USCjr's QB looked like doody last week. UK doesn't have a good defense (at least based on last week) but I'm not sure USCjr has any type of offense either. Having said that..they beat UNC on the road in the very first game of the season. UNC is better than UK and they get them at home in a game that Spurrier will probably try and extract a little revenge if possible. I'll be surprised if UK's able to win the game but I wouldn't be surprised if they covered the 8.5.....If I were betting on this game...I would bet USCjr to cover but I don't have a ton of confidence in that because this is simply too bad teams going at it and you never know what can happen in those games.
Team Rankings predicts:
USCjr - 32.5
UK - 22.3
Numberfire projects:
USCjr - 36.3
UK - 27.3
I'm not sure. USCjr's QB looked like doody last week. UK doesn't have a good defense (at least based on last week) but I'm not sure USCjr has any type of offense either. Having said that..they beat UNC on the road in the very first game of the season. UNC is better than UK and they get them at home in a game that Spurrier will probably try and extract a little revenge if possible. I'll be surprised if UK's able to win the game but I wouldn't be surprised if they covered the 8.5.....If I were betting on this game...I would bet USCjr to cover but I don't have a ton of confidence in that because this is simply too bad teams going at it and you never know what can happen in those games.
"IF" will be the talk on the blue site after the game. They love to "IF" themselves into believing that they are a team to be skeered of.
I'm not sure if UNC is better than UK but UK has really struggled at Williams Brice, even with good teams. I hate this line, personally--feel about it like I felt about the UofL-Auburn line. Just didn't want any part. As a UK fan I think it's a game we can win. If you made me bet $100 I'd probably take USC to cover.
Until UK proves it can stop the run, I think you have to assume USC will pound the ball and control the clock.
Until UK proves it can stop the run, I think you have to assume USC will pound the ball and control the clock.
I don't know if UNC is better than UK either, at least to the extent Patrick Towles would seem to be less likely to find South Carolina's defensive backs as intended targets in the endzone three times. What struck me as concerning for Kentucky vs. what North Carolina is capable is: 1. There isn't much question that the front seven for North Carolina as constructed by Gene Chizik looked more formidable than Kentucky's front seven as coached by their defensive coordinator & Coach Stoops. That has value as it applies to South Carolina using Pharoah Cooper; he was productive in a big way against the Heels...and UK looked a little sketchy tackling in the open field. 2. I can't put my finger on just what is happening with Towles; on the one hand he looks like he's fallen in love with his own touchd and finesse not unlike Couch seemed to, but he doesn't look at all right mechanically. You can see in the slow motion replays that his footwork is screwed up and it robs him of velocity.
Yardage should be there for UK; if it were me I'd ride Williams and Horton before I would Towles. But yardage is going to be there for South Carolina also; UK's front seven doesn't look very athletic or physical.
Yardage should be there for UK; if it were me I'd ride Williams and Horton before I would Towles. But yardage is going to be there for South Carolina also; UK's front seven doesn't look very athletic or physical.
Even though this is not a very good S.Carolina team, I think the the Cocks will give the Mildcats a pretty good pounding tomorrow and all in the world will be normal again.
31-14
31-14
after watching bits of the UNC game and UK's opener, I have more questions than answers...which makes me look at historical trends... which makes me take the gamecocks -8.
Take the points. Spurrier seems to have lost his touch with QBs, they just look terrible offensively. USC wins, but it's a one possession type of game.
The pitchforks and torches will be out in Columbia if the Gamecocks fall to Lumpy's Losers 2 years in a row.
Call it self preservation and take USC jr minus 8.
Call it self preservation and take USC jr minus 8.
8 point 'dawgs win outright about 32% of the time. I did not see the Cats game and was "in and out" of the USC/NC game but neither truly impressed me. About 3 weeks to soon for the Sagarin's numbers to get "right" but his 1st week predictor numbers make the Cats a 10 point 'dawg. Have to buy picks from other so I don't know how the sharps are looking at it. Other than UK's long road loss streak I'm not sure what the angles are in this one. A few of the talking heads are picking UK but what do they know? My gut feeling is USCjr in a close one. But it could be that burrito for lunch.
Peace
Peace
I agree CardHack...Towles has just never looked "good" to me. He's always just looked adequate. He's a mediocre QB at best from what I've seen in his starts over the last 2 years. I remember him getting hype last year for a bit and people saying he's one of the best QBs in the SEC and I guess thats because the SEC is really down at QB. He finished last season with a total QBR of 61.2, which was good enough for 54th overall. His career completion % is barely over 50%. If you just look at this stats against Power 5 competition its bleak.
In 9 games last year against Power 5 teams Towels stats were:
56% Completion
1,985 yards (220 per game average)
9 TDs/9 Ints
56.2 QBR Rating.
(He did have 5 rushing TDs against Power 5 competition)
UK has better, more experiences weapons now but I'm not sure they have a QB who's capable of consistently utilizing those weapons. If UK is going to win this game its going to be off a USCjr turnover and then riding their OLine and RBs to a clock controlling victory. Hopefully Spurrier has finally figured out how to stop the easiest play in college football, the wildcat direct snap.
As a UK fan, I wouldn't suggest betting on this game. There are a lot of factors(including weather) that could change the game. I could see SCAR winning by 2-3 TD's, it could be a close game, or there is a slight chance UK could pull the upset. If I HAD to bet though, I would probably take SCAR.
One thing we know for sure - if.... if... if.... given the opportunity Spurrier will try to score late in the game even if they have a commanding lead. It's what he's always done.
The South Carolina D did produce a second half shut out in week one. They have a new Defensive Coordinator and they were a very young unit last year. Skai is a big time play maker for them on that side of the ball and they've brought in a 5th yr Sr to help out in the defensive backfield.
USC actually ran the ball twice as many times as they threw it last week despite trailing for a significant portion of the game. They used three different RBs and they lined up Cooper and ran him at QB too.
UK has a fairly significant edge at QB and Williams is a big time weapon @ RB. UNC did have success in the passing game, mostly in the first half, so it is possible plays are available for Kentucky through the air.
This game is going to tell a lot about the UK defense, and what kind of game plan Stoops is capable of making. The USC QB does not appear capable of beating them down the field. UK should stack the box and force him to make plays.
If UK can win this game they will have some legitimate momentum.
USC actually ran the ball twice as many times as they threw it last week despite trailing for a significant portion of the game. They used three different RBs and they lined up Cooper and ran him at QB too.
UK has a fairly significant edge at QB and Williams is a big time weapon @ RB. UNC did have success in the passing game, mostly in the first half, so it is possible plays are available for Kentucky through the air.
This game is going to tell a lot about the UK defense, and what kind of game plan Stoops is capable of making. The USC QB does not appear capable of beating them down the field. UK should stack the box and force him to make plays.
If UK can win this game they will have some legitimate momentum.