Monday Nebraska faces South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando Florida. The Gamecocks are 10-2 on the year and ranked ninth in the Associated Press poll, while the Huskers are 9-3 and ranked 20th. The game is set to kickoff at noon and will be televised nationally by ESPN.
South Carolina is a great defensive team. That is different than most casual fans would think, especially with wide open passing attack guru Steve Spurrier as the coach of South Carolina. The Gamecocks are the number two passing defense in the country and one of the top overall defensive units in the nation. As a team South Carolina allows 18.8 points per game, 135.9 yards rushing per contest and only 133 yards per game through the air.
South Carolina is strongest on their defense up front. Two defensive ends merit special attention. Melvin Ingram (6-foot-2, 276 pounds, Senior) is an All-American. He has 44 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses and 8.5 sacks this season. Freshman Jadevon Clowney (6-6, 254) is a budding star that is a tremendous speed rusher. A Husker offensive line that has been decimated by injuries will need to play extremely well for the Big Red to move the football and protect Taylor Martinez. Strong side linebacker Antonio Allen (6-2, 202, Sr.) leads the team with 81 total tackles. He also has had 8.5 tackles for loss and is tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Middle linebacker Shaq Wilson (5-11, 223, Jr.) is a good leader with excellent quickness. Free safety D.J. Swearinger (5-11, 208, Jr.) is second on the squad with 73 total tackles and also has three pickoffs this season. This defense has a good mix of size with speed that makes them one of the best defensive units Nebraska has seen in the Bo Pelini era.
Offensively, the Gamecocks are a balanced team. South Carolina averages just over 30 points per game, The Gamecocks rush for 198 yards per contest and throw for 177 more. Connor Shaw (6-1, 204, So.) has stepped up this season to be an impressive runner and thrower. Shaw averages almost 54 yards per game on the ground with seven touchdowns. Through the air he completes 65.5 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He is gaining confidence after being effective this year in the Southeastern Conference.
Freshman Brandon Wilds (6-1, 223) has stepped up after Marcus Lattimore got hurt midway through the season and is out for Monday's game. The Huskers will need to keep Shaw from hurting the Blackshirts with his running ability. If that happens the Big Red can win this game.
South Carolina has a star in receiver in Alshon Jeffery (6-4, 229, Jr.). He has great physical size. On the season he has 45 catches for 614 yards and seven touchdowns. It will be the job of Alfonzo Dennard to shut him down. Ace Sanders (5-7, 175, So.) is a small receiver that compliments Jeffery. Sanders is second on the team with 26 catches this season. The passing game is improving, but Nebraska has the talent to keep the Gamecocks offense under wraps.
On special teams, Sanders is the best return man for South Carolina. Kicker Jay Wooten (6-3, 204, Sr.) is 7-of-10 on field goals with a long of 49 yards. He is 46-of-49 on extra points. Punter Joey Scribner-Howard (6-0, 210, Sr.) averages less than 39 yards per punt. Nebraska appears to have at least a slight edge in the kicking game.
Nebraska faces a talented defense with an offense that does just enough for South Carolina. This will be a close game that will come down to turnovers, field position and defensive play.Nebraska can win, but the Gamecocks defense will make it tough for the Big Red. I look for South Carolina to top NU by a score of 23-17 in the Capital One Bowl on Monday. Thanks for reading going Deep With Doze and check for my commentary after the game as well.
