Courtesy of Laurin Manning, we have a report announcing the cable broadcast of the South Carolina-Clemson game. A quick peek over at the South Carolina athletics site confirms this, with further detail coming from the Greenville News.
The game will be broadcast from 1900 hours on 19 November 2005 on ESPN2. For those of us not in the Palmetto State, coverage will switch to LSU-Mississippi after 1945 hours. Yahoo! will have an audio broadcast of the game here, with pre-game starting at 1730 hours.
I am of course for the ol' ball coach, and my amateur prognostications suggest that the Gamecocks might pull this one off. Analysis below the fold:
My method is extremely simple, and relies solely upon a comparison of schedule, score, and my impressions of their respective opponents. I am, after all, an amateur. To my points:
-The SEC leaders are doing than their ACC counterparts right now. This metric could change week-to-week, but Alabama and Auburn, followed closely by Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and LSU have each gotten five wins (or more) in the SEC. Conversely, only FSU, Miami-Florida, and Virginia Tech have done so in the ACC. This might point towards more parity in the ACC, but this might be irrelevant for the purposes of this game. However, South Carolina is one of the last two five win teams, having 3 losses. Thus, they're at the back of the lead pack. With that being said, they are in the lead pack. Advantage: South Carolina
-When losing, Clemson doesn't get blown out: Eighteen points---the number necessary to achieve victory in their four losses---separate the Tigers from a perfect season. South Carolina, on the other hand, has either squeaked by (excepting Troy) for victory, or gets thumped, if you subtract Georgia. Advantage: Clemson
-South Carolina is riding a five-game winning streak, including wins against Tennessee and Florida. Clemson is riding a two-game winning streak, one against FSU and one against Duke. But for two points against Georgia Tech, Clemson would have a five-game winning streak. However, two of those wins are against doormat teams, Duke and NC State. The two back marker wins for South Carolina have been against teams that aren't in the basement of the SEC, where Mississippi and Mississippi State reside. Momentum helps. Advantage: South Carolina.
-Steve Spurrier v. Tommy Bowden. One man has a national championship already. The other does not. Advantage: South Carolina
For the foregoing reasons, I believe that the Evil Genius will prevail over the Son of Bowden and deliver a victory for the Gamecocks in Columbia. Furthermore, I do not believe that either team will blow the other out.
Posted by Country Pundit at November 16, 2005 11:46 PM | TrackBack