SC wins this game, but 10.5 is a lot of points for two teams replacing significant talent. I know SC well and they have reloaded in positions that some might consider weak spots. SC home field advantage is a significant factor. A&M gave up 185 yds on the ground per game last year and our running game will be better than it was last year....that spells trouble for A&M. Our defense replaced some key guys, but they are not short on talent and know the defense well. Whammy has dialed up the 3-4, 4-3 and 4-2-5, so we will be throwing a lot of looks at this first time QB on the road at night to kickoff the season. I think SC wins 38-24, but I'm not touching the 10.5. I will wait for an in-game line if I bet at all. I did take SC in a leg of a 3 team teaser -.5. GO COCKS!!
I think its pretty safe to say that Temple was the play from 17 to 14. Mine is beat down to 12.5. I'm banking on Mason as a Defensive Coach spending a lot of time preparing this team to play well, and keeping the Defense off the field with a run game. If Temple controls the pace, I lose. But Under is what I played. I just think there is a huge unknown as to how good and how much time a rebuilt Offensive Line will be for Temple despite how good PJ is.....fact is they did what they had to do trying to outscore people last year and it produced a 2-10 year. They brought in a boat load of help for the Defense in the past class, including JUCO's so the question in my mind is....if it helped and they are better, will their game plan on Offense change from last year? The strategy for Temple this season must be different, it must produce winning results.
Only RLM movement I ever paid a Tennessee Vols ass to, lol, was Pinney and I'm trying to figure out why I don't see them mentioned anywhere. MODs, for God's sake, don't ban me from mentioning an offshore without sending a note, I'm just getting back into the saddle. For that reason, I won't take it personal that I have played A&Sham large and no one gives a Vols ass.
~T~
Took Ags with 10.5 here. it's going to be hot and as Ty Bounce said, this is going to be determined by trainers from a couple of weeks ago prepping for the heat and humidity. I wasnt sold on QB Thompson as they were bailed out by Shaw most of last year and it'll be interesting to see how he handles being "the guy". What I do like is Kenny Hill and handling the pressure. I think he's savvy enough to use the weapons he has to make plays. It's by no means a big play but i took to points
First, it doesn't appear you've been to Oklahoma this time of the year, the heat here in the Carolinas isn't squat. Second, it'll be around 90 or less, I'm thinking 88 at kickoff. So unless you're one of these wimps bagging out at the US Open Tennis because of "heat" and cramps related to it, the argument doesn't exist. I've bet good money Thompson will have a better game than Hill for the very reason that Hill has virtually nobody to throw to, at least not the guys Johnny Gone Lately had to throw those Hail-We-Gotcha-Mary's to (three of the top four receivers GONE, including the REAL hero in most of their games, EVANS). And I'm gonna jump out on a very thick oak limb and say Hill can't scramble as well as Manziel. Thompson didn't have to be bailed out in squat, Shaw was the the man at SC so I don't know where you found that left field comment. I'll wish you good luck, obviously not as much as I want (grin) but you've not made a single fact-based remark.
~T~
Here is an interesting article I found for the OVER argument.
Thanks to the likes of Manziel, McCarron, Mettenberger, Murry, and Shaw, 2013 was not like the SEC we grew up with. High-caliber QB play dictated high-scoring results. In tonight’s opener you have to ask was it because of the talent of Manziel and Shaw or the systems they played in? I can only tell you after watching a month of NFL preseason, Manziel has no advantage in speed at the pro level. I saw him get caught from behind by a Washington Redskin defensive end. Last year Texas A&M averaged 44.2 points per game but allowed 32.2. Their average total in their 13 games was 71. The last time we saw the Aggies was the Chick-fil-A Bowl beating Duke 52-48 and reaching the century mark in points.
Needless to say I like the ‘OVER’ in our SEC Network opener. Dylan Thompson is a fifth-year senior that threw for 783 yards in two games last year after playing quite a bit in 2012. Connor Shaw had a 24-1 ratio of touchdowns to picks last year in Coach Spurrier’s system. Thompson is more of a pocket passer than Shaw which means he will have to throw for first downs but the advantage for this total is he will stop the clock more. RB Mike Davis has to be licking his chops considering A&M allowed 222 yards a game on the ground last season and 475.8 yards per game for #109 in the country in that category. Plus the A&M defense is down three starters in their front 7 because of injury, dismissal, or suspension. But offensively A&M scored an amazing 41 or more points in their first 10 games last year.
South Carolina doesn’t figure to be as good defensively without DE Clowney and DT Quarles. You can make the case the Gamecocks lost their top three defensive line players from a year ago. That should make it easier for Kenny Hill, the replacement for Manziel, and like Johnny Football, he is a dual-threat. WR Mike Evans is a huge loss for A&M but their receiving unit as a whole looks very talented and should have an edge on the thin South Carolina secondary. A&M has ranked in the top 25 nationally in passing and total offense in each of the past five seasons since shifting to fast-paced no-huddle offense in 2009. Under Coach Sumlin, the Aggies have led the SEC in passing, scoring, and total offense each of the past two years. Texas A&M has broken and rebroken its passing record four times in five seasons. They have scored 500-plus points in three straight seasons. This is remarkable: After two years in the SEC, the Aggies hold conference records for season passing yards, season total offense, season yards/game, season passing first downs, and season total first downs.
This total opened at 56 and is now 60 ½ or 61. South Carolina scored 35 or more in all but one of their last six home games last year. Thompson has been a very good deep thrower as a starter and he should destroy this suspect A&M defense. But I’m not comfortable laying 2-plus scores with the Gamecocks. Go ‘OVER’ like ‘ROVER’.
Thanks to the likes of Manziel, McCarron, Mettenberger, Murry, and Shaw, 2013 was not like the SEC we grew up with. High-caliber QB play dictated high-scoring results. In tonight’s opener you have to ask was it because of the talent of Manziel and Shaw or the systems they played in? I can only tell you after watching a month of NFL preseason, Manziel has no advantage in speed at the pro level. I saw him get caught from behind by a Washington Redskin defensive end. Last year Texas A&M averaged 44.2 points per game but allowed 32.2. Their average total in their 13 games was 71. The last time we saw the Aggies was the Chick-fil-A Bowl beating Duke 52-48 and reaching the century mark in points.
Needless to say I like the ‘OVER’ in our SEC Network opener. Dylan Thompson is a fifth-year senior that threw for 783 yards in two games last year after playing quite a bit in 2012. Connor Shaw had a 24-1 ratio of touchdowns to picks last year in Coach Spurrier’s system. Thompson is more of a pocket passer than Shaw which means he will have to throw for first downs but the advantage for this total is he will stop the clock more. RB Mike Davis has to be licking his chops considering A&M allowed 222 yards a game on the ground last season and 475.8 yards per game for #109 in the country in that category. Plus the A&M defense is down three starters in their front 7 because of injury, dismissal, or suspension. But offensively A&M scored an amazing 41 or more points in their first 10 games last year.
South Carolina doesn’t figure to be as good defensively without DE Clowney and DT Quarles. You can make the case the Gamecocks lost their top three defensive line players from a year ago. That should make it easier for Kenny Hill, the replacement for Manziel, and like Johnny Football, he is a dual-threat. WR Mike Evans is a huge loss for A&M but their receiving unit as a whole looks very talented and should have an edge on the thin South Carolina secondary. A&M has ranked in the top 25 nationally in passing and total offense in each of the past five seasons since shifting to fast-paced no-huddle offense in 2009. Under Coach Sumlin, the Aggies have led the SEC in passing, scoring, and total offense each of the past two years. Texas A&M has broken and rebroken its passing record four times in five seasons. They have scored 500-plus points in three straight seasons. This is remarkable: After two years in the SEC, the Aggies hold conference records for season passing yards, season total offense, season yards/game, season passing first downs, and season total first downs.
This total opened at 56 and is now 60 ½ or 61. South Carolina scored 35 or more in all but one of their last six home games last year. Thompson has been a very good deep thrower as a starter and he should destroy this suspect A&M defense. But I’m not comfortable laying 2-plus scores with the Gamecocks. Go ‘OVER’ like ‘ROVER’.
T~so based on your comment the Aggies who train in hot/humid College Station would have a distinct advantage. I remember the opener last year UNC/S Carolina and all the players wilting in the heat/humidity. With respect to Thompson, if i remember correctly QB Shaw bailed out a very ineffective QB Thompson in the Mizzou game. Shaw didnt start and Thompson was so bad that Spurrier went to an injured Connor Shaw. Also, Thompson was less that stellar when he had to sub for Shaw in the UCF game.
http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=332990142
Just so you know, Kenny Hill is a 4.6 guy, he's very, very mobile. Saw him play a bunch in HS here at So Lake Carroll
Man, you are killing me here, and really showing some ass while you're doing it. FIRST, College Station has no clue to the humidity here in the Carolinas, PERIOD. Second, Kenny Hill's record doesn't hold a candle to Marilyn, let alone to Dylan Thompson. Surely you don't wager on single bad or good games, no? I'm afraid I'm on the right side here anyway you want to dice it. GL
~T~
One of the most intelligent posts in the thread, I see that score in both eyelids right now, with Davis running for the Cocks, it really should bust low because their D is gonna really frustrate Sumlin and the Sham's lack of receiver corp they've had and I think Spurrier is more than happy to ground Game 1 out for the win. Would prefer to see 21-7 or 21-10 though, lol. GL
~T~
Oklahoma doesn't have squat on the temp plus humidity in Columbia.
I thought you were on the Gamecocks Large and Thompson would have a way better game than Hill?
