2018 outback bowl

Michigan Draws South Carolina In Outback Bowl Comment Count

Brian

you can touch a ray if you go to Tampa. woo.

Michigan returns to Tampa for a rematch against South Carolina, as predicted weeks ago by Brett McMurphy. As far as bowl matchups against SEC teams with the same record as you go, South Carolina is an ideal matchup if your preference is to get any sort of win and get to the next season—and this is my preference.

The Gamecocks rank 67th in S&P+ because that ranking system thinks they're a 6-6 team that's been fortunate. Tale of the tape:

MICHIGAN thing SOCAR
OFFENSE
31st SD RUN RATE 94th
8th RUSH O 67th
10th LINE YARDS 54th
76th PASS O 48th
118th SACKS ALLOWED 71st
24th PASSING DOWNS 102nd
72nd OVERALL 88th
DEFENSE
43rd SD RUN RATE 105th
8th RUSH D 25th
2nd LINE YARDS 41st
2nd PASS D 56th
2nd SACKS 72nd
3rd PASSING DOWNS 31st
10th OVERALL 46th

The Gamecocks' offense is a passing-oriented dunk and dunk outfit; their defense is okay but only that. They've played two games against defenses in Michigan's vicinity; they scored ten points against both Georgia and Clemson, failing to crack 300 yards in either game.

S&P+ favors Michigan by about nine. So naturally Vegas favors a team that lost to Kentucky by ten? By more than a touchdown?

That might be a data entry error. It is exceptionally rare for systems like S&P+ to differ by that much from the Vegas line. It's either that or Vegas pricing in O'Korn, but if Brandon Peters's health is that much of a swing and unknown why would they even have it on the board? I don't know. A dollar says typo.

Anyway. Good matchup Michigan should win.

UPDATE: score one for typo.

Comments

uminks

December 4th, 2017 at 2:17 AM ^

respected our DL rush and usually did the 3 step pass. Our QBs dropped back and took way too much time to throw the ball. It may be just a disconnect between the QB, WR and TE or the QBs were confused most of the time by opposing D. In the OSU game, JOK look like he had plenty time to throw but had a difficult time checking off to his 2nd and 3rd options and took way too much time against a good OSU D. Oh well, next year our OL will be improved and we will have a QB quick to make decisions.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32049

Here2CWoodson

December 3rd, 2017 at 6:08 PM ^

If Harbaugh can keep these guys focused in the practices leading up to this game I️ think they could perform to the level that gets us really excited about next years. Excited to see what Peters can do with weeks of practice as QB1 !

Joined: 11/16/2011

MGoPoints: 2963

trackcapt

December 3rd, 2017 at 6:26 PM ^

between that and what I'm sure will be about 1,000 runs by ESPN of that Clowney hit, I think our players will be plenty motivated. also, Vegas will receive some serious action from UM fans

Joined: 09/08/2009

MGoPoints: 613

go50blue

December 3rd, 2017 at 7:04 PM ^

good times and bad times in my household, my son graduated from the University of Tennessee and my daughter graduates from University of Georgia in May

Joined: 08/01/2010

MGoPoints: 481

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

December 3rd, 2017 at 7:06 PM ^

to prepare ... should be UM favored by 10.5 or more. Here are my hopes for the game: 1. UM win. 2. Harbaugh runs his offense with balance of runs and slashing pass plays. Citrus 2016 again. 3. Peters shows everyone that he is ready to take the next step. 4. Mo plays and tears up SC to boost his draft. 5. DPJ, Black, Perry & TEs are crisp in routes, catching and YAC. 6. The D suffocates SC and no 1-2 drives with multiple close plays to score TDs.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18054

Der Alte

December 3rd, 2017 at 8:34 PM ^

Last time the two teams met, in the 2013 Tampa Outback Bowl, South Carolina had Jadeveon Clowney, who made that memorable hit on Vincent Smith. This time,  M has several players (Hurst, Gary, Winovich, others) who are capable of the same kind of mayhem in the Gamecock backfield. 

When Coach Jim has his next presser we should hear about Peters' status. My guess (and hope) is that he's already cleared to practice, but of course he'll wear a dayglo, neon, flashing-light jersey to ensure no one makes contact with him.

Peters' presence on the field during the bowl game will largely spell the difference between a possibly convincing win and a nailbiting, to-the-wire finish. JOK is a fine young man, but I'd prefer he spends his last game in an M uniform as a spectator.

Joined: 07/30/2010

MGoPoints: 1925

flinttc

December 3rd, 2017 at 8:27 PM ^

All you guys predicting an easy Michigan win are the same guys who predicted a 11-1 or 10-2 season as well. Take off the fricking rose tinted glasss. We have a freshman quarterback, do not play well on the road, and a offensive line still trying to find itself after 12 games! Yes, it is a neutral site game. Yes, despite our O-line Higdon, Evans, and Isaac were very good. I suspect a good game, but not as easy as many of you homers are suggesting. Go Blue!

Joined: 10/16/2014

MGoPoints: 289

jgoblue11

December 3rd, 2017 at 11:44 PM ^

a great confidence booster going into next season. If we win decisively, it will look great going into next season against Notre Dame. I like it! Hopefully Peters is healthy and the team is hungry! Go blue!

Joined: 09/20/2017

MGoPoints: 1902

uminks

December 4th, 2017 at 2:23 AM ^

Never thought we would with 4 losses. Happy to see sparty getting all upset. The Outback bowl wants revenue and know ratings will be much higher with Michigan playing than MSU. Sorry sparty, until you start selling out your little stadium, you will not get any respect.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32049

FlexUM

December 4th, 2017 at 8:10 AM ^

I know it's not the most exciting matchup but I think it's a good one for this young Michigan team. I like the bowl years when UM has a young team as you usually see a motivated team coming out to play like it's a fall Saturday verse a veteran team just kind of dissapointed. Sort of like year one with Harbaugh against Florida. I bet we see a jacked up team coming out to play. It's almost like young teams view a game like this as "week 1" of '18. 

Who knows I'm excited though. I really hope UM wins this game. the last three years would be 10,10, and 9 wins with the hope of '18 being a big farking year! Lots of things didn't go UM's way and we are all disspointed with some games but let's go!

Joined: 11/05/2011

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