PREMIUM
AAA's EARLY 10* *Gamecocks/Tar Heels* Opening Day BLOCKBUSTER (+$26K LIFETIME NCAAF!)
(NCAAF) North Carolina vs. South Carolina,
Point Spread: -3.00 | -106.00 South Carolina (Home)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -3.00 | -106.00 South Carolina (Home)
Result: Win
This is a 10* BLOCKBUSTER on South Carolina.
After an up and down 2014/15, we think Steve Spurrier and South Carolina come in with a definite game-plan today and we expect this team to find a way to get the job done at the end of the night (note that this is a neutral field game, being played in Charlotte).
The Gamecocks:
The defense took a predictable downward turn last year after losing Jadeveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarles. The offense held up though with an experienced backup QB and a star RB, but the team still finished just 7-6. Note that South Carolina let four SEC games slip away in the fourth quarter. Spurrier was busy in the offseason of course and while the defense still has a long way to go, it has the potential to be a Top 40 unit, he signed a load of JUCO linemen and brought in old friend Jon Hoke who spent the last 13 seasons as an NFL defensive backs coach; so combined with the eight members of last year's 10-man rotation, we expect a significant up-turn in 2015/16. And we don't predict any drop off in offensive production either, the Gamecocks haven't averaged less than 30 points per game since 2009, sophomore Connor Mitch and freshman Lorenzo Nunez will each be given plenty of opportunity this season. Seven SC wideouts and TE's were targeted at least ten times last fall, Pharaoh Cooper can expect 100-plus targets again this year.
The Tar Heels:
North Carolina is almost always predicted to be the winner of the ACC and almost every year it falls short. Last season UNC finished with a 6-7 record, 4-4 in conference and got hammered by Rutgers in the Quick Lane Bowl. QB Marquise Williams is back, he led the team in rushing with 783 yards last year, but RB TJ Logan, who had just 600 yards and three rushing TD's, will be leaned upon as the main back this season. The offensive line was a joke in 2014/15 allowing 26 sacks, but it does return eight players with experience. Like South Carolina, the biggest weakness for the Tar Heels last year was their poor defensive play, the unit would give up an average of 497.8 YPG, ranking it 9th worst in the entire country. The rushing defense gave up 240.5 yards per game, ranking it 120th in the NCAA. The defense will once again be a work in progress this season.
The Bottom Line:
What North Carolina can rely on though is a weak schedule, the team avoids the major powerhouses like Clemson, Florida State and Louisville, the only two tough contests it has to worry about is this one and a road game against Georgia Tech. Win or lose this game, UNC is almost assuredly heading to another bowl game.
Digging a little deeper into South Carolina's numbers from last year sees that it was just 18 points from finishing the regular season at 10-2 and six points from 4-8 (including the bowl game, the Gamecocks played in eight contests decided by ten points or fewer). South Carolina dropped its first game last year (which ended up being one of its worst of the season), so this is a great situational factor that we can take advantage of as Spurrier will be out to make a statement in this one as to get the new campaign off on the right foot.
In our opinion, SOUTH CAROLINA is the better team and it has much more to play for tonight, and with those two factors working in our favor, all signs do indeed point to a comfortable cover.
AAA Sports
After an up and down 2014/15, we think Steve Spurrier and South Carolina come in with a definite game-plan today and we expect this team to find a way to get the job done at the end of the night (note that this is a neutral field game, being played in Charlotte).
The Gamecocks:
The defense took a predictable downward turn last year after losing Jadeveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarles. The offense held up though with an experienced backup QB and a star RB, but the team still finished just 7-6. Note that South Carolina let four SEC games slip away in the fourth quarter. Spurrier was busy in the offseason of course and while the defense still has a long way to go, it has the potential to be a Top 40 unit, he signed a load of JUCO linemen and brought in old friend Jon Hoke who spent the last 13 seasons as an NFL defensive backs coach; so combined with the eight members of last year's 10-man rotation, we expect a significant up-turn in 2015/16. And we don't predict any drop off in offensive production either, the Gamecocks haven't averaged less than 30 points per game since 2009, sophomore Connor Mitch and freshman Lorenzo Nunez will each be given plenty of opportunity this season. Seven SC wideouts and TE's were targeted at least ten times last fall, Pharaoh Cooper can expect 100-plus targets again this year.
The Tar Heels:
North Carolina is almost always predicted to be the winner of the ACC and almost every year it falls short. Last season UNC finished with a 6-7 record, 4-4 in conference and got hammered by Rutgers in the Quick Lane Bowl. QB Marquise Williams is back, he led the team in rushing with 783 yards last year, but RB TJ Logan, who had just 600 yards and three rushing TD's, will be leaned upon as the main back this season. The offensive line was a joke in 2014/15 allowing 26 sacks, but it does return eight players with experience. Like South Carolina, the biggest weakness for the Tar Heels last year was their poor defensive play, the unit would give up an average of 497.8 YPG, ranking it 9th worst in the entire country. The rushing defense gave up 240.5 yards per game, ranking it 120th in the NCAA. The defense will once again be a work in progress this season.
The Bottom Line:
What North Carolina can rely on though is a weak schedule, the team avoids the major powerhouses like Clemson, Florida State and Louisville, the only two tough contests it has to worry about is this one and a road game against Georgia Tech. Win or lose this game, UNC is almost assuredly heading to another bowl game.
Digging a little deeper into South Carolina's numbers from last year sees that it was just 18 points from finishing the regular season at 10-2 and six points from 4-8 (including the bowl game, the Gamecocks played in eight contests decided by ten points or fewer). South Carolina dropped its first game last year (which ended up being one of its worst of the season), so this is a great situational factor that we can take advantage of as Spurrier will be out to make a statement in this one as to get the new campaign off on the right foot.
In our opinion, SOUTH CAROLINA is the better team and it has much more to play for tonight, and with those two factors working in our favor, all signs do indeed point to a comfortable cover.
AAA Sports
