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CFN Predictions On Vols-South Carolina
Topic Started: Oct 29 2009, 07:11 AM (180 Views)
*TennesseeTuxedo
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2009 SEC Fearless Picks, (SC at Tenn

Quote:
 
South Carolina (6-2) at Tennessee (3-4), 7:45 EST, Saturday, October 31

Why to watch: The No. 2 spot in the East is still up for grabs, and South Carolina is still alive in the race for the SEC title. All Steve Spurrier’s team can ask for is to be in a position to win it, and while it will take Florida losing a game before the November 14th showdown in Columbia, there’s still hope. The Gamecock offense has decided to take a midseason nap scoring just 20 points in the last two games, and while playing Alabama and Vanderbilt (who can play a little D), the attack needs to find something that works again, and fast. Meanwhile, Tennessee continued its erratic season by doing everything to beat Alabama last week but block Terrence Cody. The offense has stopped handing the ball over to the other team on a regular basis, the defense has continued to be terrific, and a bowl game is there for the taking with a relatively easy second half of the season. The date at Ole Miss will be tough, but the Vols will likely be favored in the other three games (Memphis, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky) with a chance to end the year on a high note and a bowl game. This has been another interesting week for Tennessee with head coach Lane Kiffin getting honked at by the SEC for criticizing officials, but the team seems to do well with controversy. With Kiffin’s complaints and Spurrier yelling at Alabama for using tape on the football for field goals, gamesmanship isn’t a problem for the coaching staffs. This should be fun.

Why South Carolina might win: Tennessee is going to be very one dimensional, very quickly, and while that one dimension, the running game, is a good one, the success and the production over the last few weeks has come from a balanced attack with QB Jonathan Crompton opening up the passing attack. That’s not going to happen against a South Carolina secondary that hasn’t allowed more than 156 yards through the air over the last five games and has given up a mere two scores in the same span. The Tennessee passing attack has improved by leaps and bounds, but it’s not going to be consistent enough to put up big numbers if the ground game isn’t working against a strong Gamecock defensive front.
Why Tennessee might win: The South Carolina offense is moving the ball, it came up with 431 yards against Vanderbilt and has shown a little bit of balance, but the points aren’t coming. The O had a hard time scoring on South Carolina State and tends to go for extremely long stretches where it shuts down entirely. Tennessee’s defense, like South Carolina’s, is terrific against the pass helped by a strong push from the defensive front. South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia is a baller and he’ll make several nice plays when he should be shut down, but he’s going to be under pressure all game long behind a mediocre line and against a nasty UT pass rush.

Who to watch: Tennessee WR Gerald Jones was a disappointment last year, and made just two catches for 13 yards against South Carolina, and this year it took him a while to get going. And then came the last few weeks as he has emerged as Crompton’s favorite, most dangerous target. He caught 30 passes all of last year and has 19 grabs in his last three games with two scores against Georgia and a touchdown grab against Alabama last week. Tennessee’s offensive talent is at running back, and the more safety help needed to deal with Jones, the more room there will be for Montario Hardesty to work.

What will happen: South Carolina finds ways to make things happen. The defense is timely, the offense has been coming up with just enough production to get by, and the team’s makeup is there to pull off the key road win. But Tennessee will be better. The Vol pass rush will be the difference hammering Garcia all game long in a tough, entertaining battle.

CFN Prediction: Tennessee 23 … South Carolina 16 ... Line: Tennessee -5


I feel good about our chances this week. The team has practiced well and is very focused on the game.

South Carolina, on the other hand, is thinking about Florida and pumping gas at the gas station. I have to wonder about the teams' focus.

If we can pass the ball against the Alabama defense, we will be able to pass the ball on South Carolina, however, if it is easy to run the ball on their defense, we will use that route to demoralize them, when possible.

Imagine if we are able to throw on their defense, just how our offense could have their defense back on their heels with a balanced offense that they will not know how to defend and when?
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*OrangeRev
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Tree hug'n, bleed'n heart, lazy luv'n, global warm'n token liberal

We had better score TDs this week, because I have a feeling that Lincoln won't be ready ... does Cunningham back up Lincoln? Or, is it Ingham?
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RedneckVol
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With the current NOAA weather forecast being 60% chance of showers/thunderstorms for Saturday night, ball control will be even more important. I say bring on the rain. I think it will hurt the Gas Pumper's passing attack more than it disturbs our running game.

A rainy Halloween in Neyland against the Game Chickens...I wouldn't miss it for the world! :D
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IndianVol


OrangeRev
Oct 29 2009, 07:54 AM
We had better score TDs this week, because I have a feeling that Lincoln won't be ready ... does Cunningham back up Lincoln? Or, is it Ingham?
Looks like Cunningham, he's been doing all the placekicking in practices. Kiffin did say he has looked good. I doubt Lincoln will go, he was actually hurt in pregame vs Bama and should not have even kicked in that game (obviously)

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*JollyVolly
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A Very Manly Man

IndianVol
Oct 29 2009, 08:29 AM
OrangeRev
Oct 29 2009, 07:54 AM
We had better score TDs this week, because I have a feeling that Lincoln won't be ready ... does Cunningham back up Lincoln? Or, is it Ingham?
Looks like Cunningham, he's been doing all the placekicking in practices. Kiffin did say he has looked good. I doubt Lincoln will go, he was actually hurt in pregame vs Bama and should not have even kicked in that game (obviously)

That's completely wrong about Cunningham.

Everybody knows that Lincoln's replacement will be Andrew Johnson......(and he won't do very well).......
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RedneckVol
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JollyVolly
Oct 29 2009, 09:44 AM
That's completely wrong about Cunningham.

Everybody knows that Lincoln's replacement will be Andrew Johnson......(and he won't do very well).......
Johnson will do an average job until the Impeach Bowl. :D
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*JollyVolly
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A Very Manly Man

RedneckVol
Oct 29 2009, 10:33 AM
JollyVolly
Oct 29 2009, 09:44 AM
That's completely wrong about Cunningham.

Everybody knows that Lincoln's replacement will be Andrew Johnson......(and he won't do very well).......
Johnson will do an average job until the Impeach Bowl. :D
LOL....very nice, RNV...
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gallavol
Cynical Idealist

That is the first article I have read that picks TN to win. Almost everybody is picking against us this weekend. Vegas has us as a 5 point favorite, they usually know a hell of a lot more than sports writers.
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