Weekly Predictions 10/13/07
So last week I did pretty well picking. USC won and Clemson lost. I was off on the Florida upset, but my week 6 record was 7-2. (I also missed on the Tenn beatdown of Georgia.
Anyway, it is a new week, and I'll be featuring one game this week since our other local team is licking their "special"(team) wounds.
USC v UNC
I'll call this one the "Battle of the Carolinas".
Tarheels (2-4)
Carolina North type is coming off a pretty big win over Miami. Butch Davis is laying the seeds of success at UNC, that is for sure. The only thing is that wasn't your daddy's Miami, a program who is in the same shape as Florida State; a mere shadow of its once prominent self.
Anyway, the offense is run by redshirt freshman quarterback T.J. Yates. Right now he is completing 63% of his passes (100-163). He has thrown 9 TDs on 231 yards per game on average, but has also had 8 INTs. His leading receiver is Hakeem Nicks, who has hauled in 31 balls for 413 yards and three touchdowns.
The offense on the whole averages about 24 points per game; 104 yards on the ground and 233 through the air.
The defense is led by linebacker Durrel Mapp, who has 62 tackles, 1 sack, and an interception.
Mapp and Co. give up about 25 points per game; 147 yards on the ground, and 212 yards through the air
Gamecocks (5-1)
Carolina South type is coming off a big win over Kentucky, which put them in sole possesion of the East, and giving them their highest ranking since the 2001 season. Chris Smelley is continuing his improvement, and becoming the leader of the offense. The defense is also playing well. DE Eric Norwood and S Emmanuel Cook have stepped up as leaders in the absences of LB Jasper Brinkley and DE/DT Nathan Pepper.
The offense is averaging about 29 ppg, while the defense is giving up roughly 17 a game.
The passing attack is putting up close to 230 yards, while the run is churning out 130 ypg.
The defense is "holding it down" against the pass, allowing around 126 a game, while the run defense is ever improving, allowing 193 ypg.
The Low-Down
This game should be a breeze for USC. They have better players and a great coach in Spurrier.
UNC is building for the future, and probably shouldn't be in this game mid way through the third quarter.
In short, USC should win this game handily, judging how they have played against their competition.
My Prediction
USC is ranked #7 in the AP, while UNC has 2 wins (JMU & UM (Fl)).
Many people are comparing this season to the 1984 season for USC. The only problem with that is that USC lost to Navy that year, and I just get a sinking feeling about this game. It is a game that USC should dominate in, but I'm thinking it will be "closer than the experts think".
USC has to defend the run better, a run game for UNC that torched he Miami defense.
Also, The Cocks need to get in the face of T.J. Yates, as they did to Woodson last week.
If USC runs the offense, they should win.
UNC is going to have to live and die by the run this week, because the passing game probably won't be there. The Heels have to keep their crowd into this game for four quarters if they stand a shot at pulling the upset.
South Carolina 31
North Carolina 17
*Round 1 of the Battle of the Carolinas goes to the South.
Other picks for the week:
Alabama over Mississippi
Tennessee over Miss. State
LSU over Kentucky
Georgia over Vanderbilt
Arkansas over Auburn
Fl. State over Wake Forest
Georgia Tech over Miami
Boston College over Notre Dame
Previous 6 weeks record: 44-11
Week 1: 8-3
Week 2: 9-0
Week 3: 6-3
Week 4: 7-1
Week 5: 7-2
Week 6: 7-2
Anyway, it is a new week, and I'll be featuring one game this week since our other local team is licking their "special"(team) wounds.
USC v UNC
I'll call this one the "Battle of the Carolinas".
Tarheels (2-4)
Carolina North type is coming off a pretty big win over Miami. Butch Davis is laying the seeds of success at UNC, that is for sure. The only thing is that wasn't your daddy's Miami, a program who is in the same shape as Florida State; a mere shadow of its once prominent self.
Anyway, the offense is run by redshirt freshman quarterback T.J. Yates. Right now he is completing 63% of his passes (100-163). He has thrown 9 TDs on 231 yards per game on average, but has also had 8 INTs. His leading receiver is Hakeem Nicks, who has hauled in 31 balls for 413 yards and three touchdowns.
The offense on the whole averages about 24 points per game; 104 yards on the ground and 233 through the air.
The defense is led by linebacker Durrel Mapp, who has 62 tackles, 1 sack, and an interception.
Mapp and Co. give up about 25 points per game; 147 yards on the ground, and 212 yards through the air
Gamecocks (5-1)
Carolina South type is coming off a big win over Kentucky, which put them in sole possesion of the East, and giving them their highest ranking since the 2001 season. Chris Smelley is continuing his improvement, and becoming the leader of the offense. The defense is also playing well. DE Eric Norwood and S Emmanuel Cook have stepped up as leaders in the absences of LB Jasper Brinkley and DE/DT Nathan Pepper.
The offense is averaging about 29 ppg, while the defense is giving up roughly 17 a game.
The passing attack is putting up close to 230 yards, while the run is churning out 130 ypg.
The defense is "holding it down" against the pass, allowing around 126 a game, while the run defense is ever improving, allowing 193 ypg.
The Low-Down
This game should be a breeze for USC. They have better players and a great coach in Spurrier.
UNC is building for the future, and probably shouldn't be in this game mid way through the third quarter.
In short, USC should win this game handily, judging how they have played against their competition.
My Prediction
USC is ranked #7 in the AP, while UNC has 2 wins (JMU & UM (Fl)).
Many people are comparing this season to the 1984 season for USC. The only problem with that is that USC lost to Navy that year, and I just get a sinking feeling about this game. It is a game that USC should dominate in, but I'm thinking it will be "closer than the experts think".
USC has to defend the run better, a run game for UNC that torched he Miami defense.
Also, The Cocks need to get in the face of T.J. Yates, as they did to Woodson last week.
If USC runs the offense, they should win.
UNC is going to have to live and die by the run this week, because the passing game probably won't be there. The Heels have to keep their crowd into this game for four quarters if they stand a shot at pulling the upset.
South Carolina 31
North Carolina 17
*Round 1 of the Battle of the Carolinas goes to the South.
Other picks for the week:
Alabama over Mississippi
Tennessee over Miss. State
LSU over Kentucky
Georgia over Vanderbilt
Arkansas over Auburn
Fl. State over Wake Forest
Georgia Tech over Miami
Boston College over Notre Dame
Previous 6 weeks record: 44-11
Week 1: 8-3
Week 2: 9-0
Week 3: 6-3
Week 4: 7-1
Week 5: 7-2
Week 6: 7-2
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