Gamecocks vs Wolverines NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
This intriguing bowl match-up features one of the most dynamic athletes college football has seen in some time (Michigan’s veteran QB/RB threat Denard Robinson) versus a downright nasty defense led by a first-team All-American in the form of South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney.
Outback Bowl
South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2) vs. Michigan Wolverines (8-4)
Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, 1 pm EST
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa FL
Betting Information Courtesy WagerWeb
Carolina -230, Michigan +190
Carolina -5.5, Michigan +5.5
Over/Under: 48
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
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It should make for some exciting football in Tampa on New Year’s Day.
Robinson, who will be playing in his final game donning the Maize and Blue, has been playing at RB the last several weeks, due to an injury to his throwing elbow that has limited his ability to grip and throw the ball. Junior QB Devin Gardner has stepped in admirably, throwing for over 1,000 yards and eight TDs.
Another marked improvement in Ann Arbor has been on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive co-ordinator Greg Mattison has this unit hungry, after a couple of seasons of woeful performance on “D”.
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An even better defense, though, is on display with the Gamecocks. Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has had this program knocking on the door for an SEC East crown; South Carolina has just posted the first back-to-back double-digit win seasons in school history.
In addition to the All-America selection, Clowney was awarded as SEC Defensive Player of the Year and also won the Hendricks Award for the nation’s top defensive end.
The quarterback position is in reliable hands at Carolina with Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson, but the offense took a major blow with the absence of RB Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore suffered a ghastly knee injury and though he is prodigiously talented, his college career has been ugly injury after ugly injury. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
He has chosen to be eligible for the NFL Draft this off-season. On Michigan’s sideline, the Wolverines will be without starting CB J.T. Floyd, as well as starting P Will Hagerup and a backup LB. The trio was suspended for a violation of team rules.
Michigan will be eager to atone for their complete lack of offensive firepower in the second half against hated Ohio State in their most recent game.
Michigan looked dynamic in the first half, only to disappear in the second stanza and subsequently allow the Buckeyes to complete an undefeated season. Surely, the sting of that reality is still fresh.
Also, Michigan’s offensive line is among the best in the Big Ten; if there’s a unit out there that can weather the storm of South Carolina’s terrorizing defensive line, it might be this one.
The Gamecocks lost to Iowa in the Outback Bowl in 2009, and I will call for them to come up short versus a Big Ten opponent once again.
I could see Robinson and Gardner being elusive and there will be enough motivation following the Ohio State game embarrassment for the Wolverines to pull the upset, as a school legend (Robinson) rides off into the sunset.
Score Prediction: Michigan 21 South Carolina 19
