Houston Offense vs. South Carolina Defense
Houston has run slightly more than it has passed the ball but the focus of the offense is QB Kevin Kolb. A four-year starter, Kolb has done a far better job of taking care of the football this year. He is completing 67.7-percent of his throws with 27 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. In comparison, Kolb threw 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2005. Most impressive about Kolb is that he doesn't panic in clutch situations and he is an experienced enough leader to help calm his teammates in a high-pressure situation of playing an SEC opponent in a bowl game. The Cougars are blessed with a deep corps of receivers, as Vincent Marshall, Donnie Avery, Jeron Harvey and Biren Ealy each has notched more than 30 receptions on the season. Marshall is the most reliable receiver with 71 catches. Avery and Harvey are less consistent but provide more vertical capability. Ealy is a late-bloomer who has emerged as a big-play threat in recent games thanks to his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. There's no question that Kolb can exploit the Gamecocks' secondary if given time, but protecting Kolb will be a much tougher task. South Carolina is averaging 2? sacks per game this season and the pressure comes from all different angles, as rush-end Eric Norwood leads the team with seven sacks, DE Casper Brinkley is second on the team with five sacks and his brother, MLB Jasper Brinkley, is third with four sacks on the season.
Houston vs. South Carolina
When: Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Memphis, Tenn.
Kolb is a threat to run when nothing is available downfield, but RBs Jackie Battle and Anthony Alridge handle most of the carries in the ground game and complement each other well. Battle is a power back who possesses good speed for his size and Alridge is an elusive runner who has the second gear to go the distance when he gets a seam. South Carolina's biggest weakness defensively is its lack of size versus the run. DT Nathan Pepper is the biggest member (285 pounds) of a unit that ranks 77th nationally versus the run, allowing 147.8 yards per contest. With that in mind, do not be surprised if Houston enters this game with the mindset of establishing the ground attack early on. By running the football effectively it could also help to wear down an undersized but fast Gamecocks' defensive front, which would slow down the pass rush and give Kolb more time to throw in the second half.
South Carolina Offense vs. Houston Defense
South Carolina should dictate the tempo on offense in this game. Houston has decent size up front defensively but it struggles to establish a front-four pass rush, which puts defensive coordinator Alan Weddell in a difficult spot of needing to give up linebackers in coverage in order to apply significant pressure. Though QB Blake Mitchell could make better decisions at times, he is an accurate passer with a good understanding of coach Steve Spurrier's system. It also helps that Mitchell has one of the most explosive receivers in the country at his disposal in Sidney Rice, who leads the team with 951 yards and nine touchdowns on 64 receptions. Rice shows a second gear when tracking the ball downfield and he can make some acrobatic catches. Mitchell also has done a fine job of exploiting extra real estate given to his No. 2 WR Kenny McKinley on the opposite side. McKinley is a pint-sized sophomore with great quickness, who is averaging 16 yards on 48 catches this season. Houston will be relying on DE Phillip Hunt (6? sacks) and DE/OLB Brendan Pahulu (? sack) to apply pressure on Mitchell. If they can't get the job done it should be a long afternoon for Houston's secondary.
Coach Steve Spurrier is known for his wide-open passing schemes but he continues to do a fine job of balancing out his play-calling. As a result, opponents can't load up against the run or sit back in coverage. RB Cory Boyd and Mike Davis run hard and can pick up yards after contact, which could prove to be a big problem for a Houston run defense that does a poor job of talking in space and subsequently surrenders 139.9 yards rushing per contest.
The one X-factor in this matchup is DS Will Gulley, who leads the team in total tackles (93) and interceptions (five). If Mitchell fails to account for Gulley on pre-snap reads and find him when surveying the field on his drops, Gulley could force a couple of key turnovers that could swing the momentum in Houston's favor.
Special Teams
One of Houston's biggest weaknesses is its poor overall play on special teams. It ranks 115th nationally in net punting, 84th in punt returns and 48th in kickoff returns. PT Justin Laird has struggled throughout the season with his hang-time and directional skills. Neither PR Vincent Marshall nor KOR Anthony Alridge has shown explosiveness in the return game. In fact, the only real bright spot has been the field goal unit, as PK Ben Bell has nailed 14 of 18 field goal attempts this season. He did, however, have two attempts blocked.
South Carolina has a clear edge on special teams, mostly due to the skill of PK/PT Ryan Succop. The sophomore kicker is averaging 43.6 yards per punt, while also connecting on 15 of 18 field goal attempts on the season. Succop did have one field goal attempt and one extra point attempt blocked, however, so that's something to monitor in this game. The Gamecocks have been just decent in the return game. Kenny McKinley is averaging 8.8 yards per punt return, Captain Munnerlyn has taken over most of the kickoff return duties and is averaging 22.5 yards per attempt.
Matchups
? South Carolina QB Blake Mitchell vs. Houston FS Will Gulley
? South Carolina WR Sidney Rice vs. Houston CB Kenneth Fontenette
? Houston WR Vincent Marshall vs. South Carolina CB Fred Bennett
Scouts' Edge
There will be no shortage of points in this year's Liberty Bowl. Mitchell is entrenched at the quarterback position for South Carolina and he has big-time weapons to exploit in Rice, McKinley and Boyd. On the flip side, Kolb is a legitimate NFL draft prospect with the arm and mobility to exploit a South Carolina defense that surrenders 321 total yards per game.
South Carolina has better overall athletes and it will be hungry to erase the memories of a 38-31 loss to Missouri in last year's Liberty Bowl after blowing a 21-point lead in that game. Spurrier showed his team a great deal of loyalty by turning down high profile positions recently. Expect his players to reward Spurrier with his first bowl victory as the Gamecocks' head coach.
Prediction: Gamecocks 33, Cougars 24
Houston has run slightly more than it has passed the ball but the focus of the offense is QB Kevin Kolb. A four-year starter, Kolb has done a far better job of taking care of the football this year. He is completing 67.7-percent of his throws with 27 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. In comparison, Kolb threw 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2005. Most impressive about Kolb is that he doesn't panic in clutch situations and he is an experienced enough leader to help calm his teammates in a high-pressure situation of playing an SEC opponent in a bowl game. The Cougars are blessed with a deep corps of receivers, as Vincent Marshall, Donnie Avery, Jeron Harvey and Biren Ealy each has notched more than 30 receptions on the season. Marshall is the most reliable receiver with 71 catches. Avery and Harvey are less consistent but provide more vertical capability. Ealy is a late-bloomer who has emerged as a big-play threat in recent games thanks to his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. There's no question that Kolb can exploit the Gamecocks' secondary if given time, but protecting Kolb will be a much tougher task. South Carolina is averaging 2? sacks per game this season and the pressure comes from all different angles, as rush-end Eric Norwood leads the team with seven sacks, DE Casper Brinkley is second on the team with five sacks and his brother, MLB Jasper Brinkley, is third with four sacks on the season.
Houston vs. South Carolina
When: Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Memphis, Tenn.
Kolb is a threat to run when nothing is available downfield, but RBs Jackie Battle and Anthony Alridge handle most of the carries in the ground game and complement each other well. Battle is a power back who possesses good speed for his size and Alridge is an elusive runner who has the second gear to go the distance when he gets a seam. South Carolina's biggest weakness defensively is its lack of size versus the run. DT Nathan Pepper is the biggest member (285 pounds) of a unit that ranks 77th nationally versus the run, allowing 147.8 yards per contest. With that in mind, do not be surprised if Houston enters this game with the mindset of establishing the ground attack early on. By running the football effectively it could also help to wear down an undersized but fast Gamecocks' defensive front, which would slow down the pass rush and give Kolb more time to throw in the second half.
South Carolina Offense vs. Houston Defense
South Carolina should dictate the tempo on offense in this game. Houston has decent size up front defensively but it struggles to establish a front-four pass rush, which puts defensive coordinator Alan Weddell in a difficult spot of needing to give up linebackers in coverage in order to apply significant pressure. Though QB Blake Mitchell could make better decisions at times, he is an accurate passer with a good understanding of coach Steve Spurrier's system. It also helps that Mitchell has one of the most explosive receivers in the country at his disposal in Sidney Rice, who leads the team with 951 yards and nine touchdowns on 64 receptions. Rice shows a second gear when tracking the ball downfield and he can make some acrobatic catches. Mitchell also has done a fine job of exploiting extra real estate given to his No. 2 WR Kenny McKinley on the opposite side. McKinley is a pint-sized sophomore with great quickness, who is averaging 16 yards on 48 catches this season. Houston will be relying on DE Phillip Hunt (6? sacks) and DE/OLB Brendan Pahulu (? sack) to apply pressure on Mitchell. If they can't get the job done it should be a long afternoon for Houston's secondary.
Coach Steve Spurrier is known for his wide-open passing schemes but he continues to do a fine job of balancing out his play-calling. As a result, opponents can't load up against the run or sit back in coverage. RB Cory Boyd and Mike Davis run hard and can pick up yards after contact, which could prove to be a big problem for a Houston run defense that does a poor job of talking in space and subsequently surrenders 139.9 yards rushing per contest.
The one X-factor in this matchup is DS Will Gulley, who leads the team in total tackles (93) and interceptions (five). If Mitchell fails to account for Gulley on pre-snap reads and find him when surveying the field on his drops, Gulley could force a couple of key turnovers that could swing the momentum in Houston's favor.
Special Teams
One of Houston's biggest weaknesses is its poor overall play on special teams. It ranks 115th nationally in net punting, 84th in punt returns and 48th in kickoff returns. PT Justin Laird has struggled throughout the season with his hang-time and directional skills. Neither PR Vincent Marshall nor KOR Anthony Alridge has shown explosiveness in the return game. In fact, the only real bright spot has been the field goal unit, as PK Ben Bell has nailed 14 of 18 field goal attempts this season. He did, however, have two attempts blocked.
South Carolina has a clear edge on special teams, mostly due to the skill of PK/PT Ryan Succop. The sophomore kicker is averaging 43.6 yards per punt, while also connecting on 15 of 18 field goal attempts on the season. Succop did have one field goal attempt and one extra point attempt blocked, however, so that's something to monitor in this game. The Gamecocks have been just decent in the return game. Kenny McKinley is averaging 8.8 yards per punt return, Captain Munnerlyn has taken over most of the kickoff return duties and is averaging 22.5 yards per attempt.
Matchups
? South Carolina QB Blake Mitchell vs. Houston FS Will Gulley
? South Carolina WR Sidney Rice vs. Houston CB Kenneth Fontenette
? Houston WR Vincent Marshall vs. South Carolina CB Fred Bennett
Scouts' Edge
There will be no shortage of points in this year's Liberty Bowl. Mitchell is entrenched at the quarterback position for South Carolina and he has big-time weapons to exploit in Rice, McKinley and Boyd. On the flip side, Kolb is a legitimate NFL draft prospect with the arm and mobility to exploit a South Carolina defense that surrenders 321 total yards per game.
South Carolina has better overall athletes and it will be hungry to erase the memories of a 38-31 loss to Missouri in last year's Liberty Bowl after blowing a 21-point lead in that game. Spurrier showed his team a great deal of loyalty by turning down high profile positions recently. Expect his players to reward Spurrier with his first bowl victory as the Gamecocks' head coach.
Prediction: Gamecocks 33, Cougars 24
