Official USC vs. Michigan in Outback Bowl Discussion Thread

[d20636]

Originally Posted by cockyhoskins

Where's the line gonna open? -7.5 or so? What'cha think?

SportBet opened at USC -6. Have a feeling that's going to move tho'...

[Garnet Gamecock]

This is the exact outcome I was hoping for! Great!

[OfficeLinebackerCock]

I hope our guys realize what a tremendous opportunity this is. Michigan is one of the true "STORIED" football programs and beating them would really mean something. The only team I would rather be facing is Notre Dame but in my mind this matchup is right up there.

[DrCorona]

Originally Posted by MGoBlue

Quick rundown of our team for those of you who aren't familiar.

QB: Denard has a nerve injury that prevents him from gripping the ball with his throwing hand. So he is exclusively a runner/short pass catcher now. It has lingered for over 5 weeks now, so who knows if it will be better by New Years (my money's on no). Agree 100%.

Our backup, Devin Gardner, is nobody to take lightly. 5 Star recruit in 2009, spent most of his career backing up Denard (even taking snaps at WR this year). He has started 4 games so far and he has been better than anything we could have hoped for, boasting a QB rating of 177.6 in those 4 games. He is your more typical dual threat QB (who can run and ACTUALLY throw the ball, unlike Denard) True test for Gardner. Looked real good against lesser teams...not so well vs. OSU. Welcome to the big time Devin!

RB: Nothing to speak of here. Honestly. Fitzgerald Touissaint, our starter, went down with a gruesome injury that could almost rival Lattimore's injury. Our backups suck. Bad. They couldn't even get yards against the likes of UMass, for god sakes. You're too kind regarding stable of current RB's. DRob will get ALL of rushing yards.

WR: Roy Roundtree is your typical possession guy, and Jeremy Gallon is our tiny (~5'10) speedster and surprisingly our best long ball threat too.
Drew Dileo is our true possession guy. Roundtree is dangerous to take it to the house but he also can get a case of the drops. Gallon best all-around WR hands down.

TE: Devin Funchess -- true freshman has been an absolute beast. Best hands i've ever seen on a TE. Look for him on any red zone possessions.
Great potential. kinda disappeared late in season. NEED to get him involved early.

OL: average at best, after our LT Taylor Lewan. They will likely get manhandled by your line. Nailed it. Unless coaches can get creative biggest worry by M fans.

Defense:

Very solid all around. D Line is not stellar, but our linebackers and backfield are the best units I've seen since 2006. Can be feast of famine though. 2 true freshman get significant PT at Linebacker. Not sure if that's gonna be good vs. a Steve Spurrier coached team. No studs in defensive backfield. Tend to be bend but don't break. Discard national passing defense stat rankings. Sh*tty Big Ten helped us greatly to that lofty position.

Jake Ryan is the dude who looks like Clay Matthews, and you will see him all over the field. He HAS to make plays for our D to be effective. Neutralize him & you guys are in great shape.

Jordan Kovacs is our 4th year starting SS, also except to always see him by the ball on every play. Defensive QB. What he lacks athletically usually makes up with smarts. He HAS to play 1 of this best games ever.

Sure wish I could be in Tampa for this one. My favorite 2 teams going head to head. I've always liked The OBC on the sideline. While I'm happy we don't have to face Lattimore, certainly not under these circumstances. Mad respect for him & his contributions to your program. Hope to see him make a triumphant return no matter which league it may be.

[ColaCock]

Originally Posted by #1TheBeast

So - where to stay in Tampa? Is it crazy in Ybor city 24/7?

Anyone know what the team hotel will be?

A lot of better places to party than Ybor City, honestly. But for some reason they get most of the attention during bowl games.

The teams will likely be staying on Rocky Point (little spot between Airport and Clearwater) that has hotels and restaurants.

[U-Dub Gamecock]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

A lot of better places to party than Ybor City, honestly. But for some reason they get most of the attention during bowl games.

The teams will likely be staying on Rocky Point (little spot between Airport and Clearwater) that has hotels and restaurants.

Cola Cock: We are staying at the Country Inn&Suites off I-4 (Exit 10).. Is that a pretty decent area, and how far is that from Raymond James Stadium??

[ColaCock]

Originally Posted by U-Dub Gamecock

Cola Cock: We are staying at the Country Inn&Suites off I-4 (Exit 10).. Is that a pretty decent area, and how far is that from Raymond James Stadium??

It is an area on the outskirts of town nearing farmland area. I am very familiar with that area as I cover it for work, and it is basically a truck stop exit before getting into/out of Tampa. It is across I-4 from Armwood High School, where a lot of big recruits come from...notably our own Cody Waldrop.

Anyhow, you are probably looking at 15 minutes to the stadium pending traffic; and the route is very simple.

You're also relatively close to Ybor City and the Hard Rock Casino...and on the side where you will face less traffic getting to and from it.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by DrCorona

Sure wish I could be in Tampa for this one. My favorite 2 teams going head to head. I've always liked The OBC on the sideline. While I'm happy we don't have to face Lattimore, certainly not under these circumstances. Mad respect for him & his contributions to your program. Hope to see him make a triumphant return no matter which league it may be.

Change your font immediately.

[U-Dub Gamecock]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

It is an area on the outskirts of town nearing farmland area. I am very familiar with that area as I cover it for work, and it is basically a truck stop exit before getting into/out of Tampa. It is across I-4 from Armwood High School, where a lot of big recruits come from...notably our own Cody Waldrop.

Anyhow, you are probably looking at 15 minutes to the stadium pending traffic; and the route is very simple.

You're also relatively close to Ybor City and the Hard Rock Casino...and on the side where you will face less traffic getting to and from it.

Cool! Thanks for the info... Yeah, I noticed the hotel had free shuttles back and forth to the Casino...

[lakemurraycock]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

Change your font immediately.

X2! My eyes are bleeding.

[Emery]

Originally Posted by OfficeLinebackerCock

I hope our guys realize what a tremendous opportunity this is. Michigan is one of the true "STORIED" football programs and beating them would really mean something. The only team I would rather be facing is Notre Dame but in my mind this matchup is right up there.

It will be nice to hopefully win against Nebraska and then Michigan.

[BlueInTheFace]

Originally Posted by rosstheboss

anyone know of a good michigan site similar to cockytalk?

www.mgoblog.com is a great source for UM info. The message board there is great as well.

Looking forward to the match up. Go blue.

[RoyalAir]

From looking at their message board, they're violently underrating our team; looking at the name of the school and the tradition associated with it, and not at the players and coaching staff currently assembled. Can't necessarily blame them for that, though, as we (as fans) would have done the same thing with Northwestern. If they honestly believe that we are a full step behind Bama, UGA, UF, LSU, and aTm, that's on them. I think the BCS Six this season proved that they're all pretty much even with each other, and a few plays here or there would've resulted in a different outcome. Only our games vs UGA (we blew them out) and UF (they blew us out) were lopsided; every other game between the Six was within a touchdown.

But hey, that's fine. I think that USC will shut down Michigan, and that they'll have significant difficulty scoring more than 14 points on offense. I also think that Davis/Miles and Shaw will have success running in open space, and that we'll take our shots downfield. I see this looking a lot like the Nebraska game last year, where it was close at half, but our club comes out and takes firm control in the third.

[uscfsu23]

Any opinions on Crowne Plaza Tampa-Westshore

[DiamondGamecock]

From what I have been seeing Denard Robinson is no longer their starting QB? Is that because of his lack of ability to throw it well, or because he has that nagging injury?

[davidmc467]

Originally Posted by DiamondGamecock

From what I have been seeing Denard Robinson is no longer their starting QB? Is that because of his lack of ability to throw it well, or because he has that nagging injury?

Injury I believe.

[]\/[GoBlue]

Originally Posted by davidmc467

Injury I believe.

You sir, are correct. He has some nerve damage in his elbow that prevents him from gripping the ball well enough to throw it. By the bowl game that may change.

[DrCorona]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

Change your font immediately.

My apologies.......just trying to hurt your eyes & get a competitive advantage!

[spareparts]

I am not deferring to any Michigan myths but the Wolverines travel very well. They show up and make themselves known and their alumni network is like the CIA. They are everywhere

Key word I see for UM is "consistency". So many of their games have been erratic and inconsistent from one play to the next. You never know who is going to show up

[smoovecock]

As long as we bring our game we should win this one by 10 or so...Mich is trying to get back to their glory days but are not there quite yet...This game will show why the SEC is a good bit better than the schools up Nawth....Speed..Speed...Speed...