South Carolina vs. Michigan – 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Michigan will play two quarterbacks on offense in Denard Robinson and
Devin Gardner. Robinson will be used more of a runner in his final
college game, thanks to an elbow injury he suffered last month. Gardner started the season at receiver, but he moved to quarterback after
Robinson’s injury. Gardner has thrown for 1,005 yards and eight
touchdowns, and Robinson threw for 1,319 yards and nine touchdowns.
Combined, these two quarterbacks have thrown for 17 touchdowns and 14
interceptions. Neither player has taken care of the football. Jeremy Gallon and Roy Roundtree are the top two receivers on the team,
as Gallon leads all receivers with 40 catches for 684 yards and two
touchdowns. Tight end Devin Funchess has caught a team-high five
touchdowns. Michigan currently has a -8 turnover margin and has turned it over 25
times this season. The biggest problem has been the quarterbacks
throwing picks in horrible situations.
The 10-2 Gamecocks could play in any of the BCS bowls because they’re that good, and they’ll suit up a defense that is as physically big and gifted as Notre Dame, who happened to beat Michigan earlier in the year 13-6. The running game consists of Kenny Miles and Mike Davis in Marcus Lattimore’s absence. Miles has toted the rock 99 times for 358 yards and two touchdowns, while Davis only has 52 carries for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Neither are game breakers like Lattimore, but both are serviceable backs who can add punch to the running game and a balance to the offense. But South Carolina makes their money with a filthy defense. The Gamecocks haven’t missed a beat under new defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward. In fact, the defense is more explosive than last season. USC leads the SEC with 40 sacks. Jadeveon Clowney alone has registered 13 sacks alone with 21.5 tackles for loss. Those are stupid numbers. The Gamecocks are fourth in the SEC and 13th overall in scoring defense, allowing opponents a little over 17.4 points per game. It’s a stingy and stout group that loves to play physical and get after the quarterback.
South Carolina’s front four on defense gives the Gamecocks the edge against Michigan. The Wolverines have played five close games in which the outcome was ultimately decided by a touchdown or less, so they’re comfortable playing close games. And Michigan has done a particularly good job protecting the quarterback, as they have only surrendered 15 sacks all season. South Carolina will look to exert their will on whichever quarterback lines up in the backfield, but I’m just having a hard time seeing Michigan consistently putting drives together against the Gamecocks’ defense.
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