Every where you look on internet forums you will find people running to the window to back NCST in this game. Some of them are smart and well respected cappers, some of them are sheep who haven't a clue in the world.
Most people dont realize that this game was lined NCST+14 in 2008 and now is NCST-5 in 2009. That is 1 hell of a swing based on numbers.
The common theme for backing NCST has been:
1)Russell Wilson who had 17:1 TD/INT ratio last yr
2)Revenge
3)NCST ended the yr 4-1 and South Carolina ended 2-3, losing last 3.
4)Garcia performance in the bowl game and last season
5)SC running game/OL woes last season
*In no order.
No one talks about NCST fielding an awful secondary that was made even worse when DeAndre Morgan was ruled out for this game. That means, the 2 starting corners for NCST in this game have never started a college game before and 1 of the corners is a converted walk on WR. No one is mentioning the loss of the best player on the NCST defense, Nate Irving and what he means to that team. He missed 4 games last yr, NCST didn't win any of those games. No one talks about the inexperience at LB for NCST, they will have Dwayne Maddox/Manning at one LB spot and Audie Cole at the other spot. Manning and Cole have never played a college football down. NCST has 1 solid part on their defense, their DL which has 2 very solid players in Young and Cash. This isnt a great DL, its a good vetern senior DL. After the DL the defense is very sketchy.
Athlete and talent wise, South Carolina has them beat all over the field. You can mention that South Carolina lost 4 from their 2008 secondary which is true but they return a kid who started 4 games in Auguste, a 3yr starter at Safety in Stewart, and a returning starter at Safety in Culliver. Then they insert a parade all-american athlete in Stephen Gilmore at the corner spot who has been in school since January and is not even close to your average freshman. South Carolina has the best defensive player on the field in this game in Norwood. They get a healthy starting LB back in Paulk who started 22 games in his career but missed 2008, and they return 3 starters on the DL, although 1 is suspended for this game in Ajiboye. Geathers was recently suspended as well and if there would be one concern for the South Carolina defense, it would be Geathers replacement, Devin Taylor against the run. South Carolina outclasses NCST all over the field on defense.
You turn the page to offense and I must say, unless you are really familiar with the SC program, you probably wouldnt know that much about the offense. Just realize that Garcia attempted to play last yr without ever having true time to practice, which is his own fault because of his stupid actions to get suspended. Spurrier brought in a real QB coach in GA Mangus and Garcia has been coached up very well. South Carolina brought in Illinois OL coach and he wasted no time starting his process with fixing the OL. There is plenty of talent at WR and RB and TE Weslye Saunders is a real bad matchup for the NCST LBs in this game.
I'll end this by saying, I graduated from South Carolina, so if you would like to throw the homer remarks out at me, have at. I just wanted to issue a warning to those who have not bet this game but think its a "gimme" because its no where near that.
If South Carolina OL is able to handle the NCST DL (handle, not dominate, not get dominated, just handle it) then they win this game. Its no so much about Russell Wilson and what NCST is going to try and do on offense, NCST does not have the defense to win this game if South Carolina does not kill themselves. Now, I know all about the 39 turnovers South Carolina made last yr, just dont think its all a given to happen again this year.
I wish everyone luck this season and hope its an entertaining game, but be careful running to the window to bet NCST-5
Most people dont realize that this game was lined NCST+14 in 2008 and now is NCST-5 in 2009. That is 1 hell of a swing based on numbers.
The common theme for backing NCST has been:
1)Russell Wilson who had 17:1 TD/INT ratio last yr
2)Revenge
3)NCST ended the yr 4-1 and South Carolina ended 2-3, losing last 3.
4)Garcia performance in the bowl game and last season
5)SC running game/OL woes last season
*In no order.
No one talks about NCST fielding an awful secondary that was made even worse when DeAndre Morgan was ruled out for this game. That means, the 2 starting corners for NCST in this game have never started a college game before and 1 of the corners is a converted walk on WR. No one is mentioning the loss of the best player on the NCST defense, Nate Irving and what he means to that team. He missed 4 games last yr, NCST didn't win any of those games. No one talks about the inexperience at LB for NCST, they will have Dwayne Maddox/Manning at one LB spot and Audie Cole at the other spot. Manning and Cole have never played a college football down. NCST has 1 solid part on their defense, their DL which has 2 very solid players in Young and Cash. This isnt a great DL, its a good vetern senior DL. After the DL the defense is very sketchy.
Athlete and talent wise, South Carolina has them beat all over the field. You can mention that South Carolina lost 4 from their 2008 secondary which is true but they return a kid who started 4 games in Auguste, a 3yr starter at Safety in Stewart, and a returning starter at Safety in Culliver. Then they insert a parade all-american athlete in Stephen Gilmore at the corner spot who has been in school since January and is not even close to your average freshman. South Carolina has the best defensive player on the field in this game in Norwood. They get a healthy starting LB back in Paulk who started 22 games in his career but missed 2008, and they return 3 starters on the DL, although 1 is suspended for this game in Ajiboye. Geathers was recently suspended as well and if there would be one concern for the South Carolina defense, it would be Geathers replacement, Devin Taylor against the run. South Carolina outclasses NCST all over the field on defense.
You turn the page to offense and I must say, unless you are really familiar with the SC program, you probably wouldnt know that much about the offense. Just realize that Garcia attempted to play last yr without ever having true time to practice, which is his own fault because of his stupid actions to get suspended. Spurrier brought in a real QB coach in GA Mangus and Garcia has been coached up very well. South Carolina brought in Illinois OL coach and he wasted no time starting his process with fixing the OL. There is plenty of talent at WR and RB and TE Weslye Saunders is a real bad matchup for the NCST LBs in this game.
I'll end this by saying, I graduated from South Carolina, so if you would like to throw the homer remarks out at me, have at. I just wanted to issue a warning to those who have not bet this game but think its a "gimme" because its no where near that.
If South Carolina OL is able to handle the NCST DL (handle, not dominate, not get dominated, just handle it) then they win this game. Its no so much about Russell Wilson and what NCST is going to try and do on offense, NCST does not have the defense to win this game if South Carolina does not kill themselves. Now, I know all about the 39 turnovers South Carolina made last yr, just dont think its all a given to happen again this year.
I wish everyone luck this season and hope its an entertaining game, but be careful running to the window to bet NCST-5
