Who: University of South Carolina Gamecocks vs. University of South Florida Bulls
What: 2016 Birmingham Bowl
When: December 29, 2016
Where: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
The 2016 Birmingham Bowl featuring the South Carolina Gamecocks and the University of South Florida Bulls is just the second meeting between these two teams. The only other time they played was a 34-3 win by the Gamecocks back in 2004, one of the two years that USF was in Conference USA, and just the fourth season that the Bulls played at the Division I-A (FBS) level. The only common opponent the two teams shared for the 2016 season was ECU, with both teams defeating the Pirates. The Gamecocks beat ECU, 20-15, while the Bulls won by a score of 38-22. USF tight ends coach and associate head coach, David Reaves, was an assistant at South Carolina from 2002-2008.
South Carolina comes into the game with a 6-6 record, closing the season by winning four of their six final games. Two of their losses came against ranked teams, #9 Texas A & M and #4 Clemson. Their best win of the season was a 24-21 win over then #18 Tennessee.
USF is riding their best-ever regular season win total, with a 10-2 record. Their two losses came against #13 FSU and American Athletic Conference champion, Temple. Their season’s signature win was a 52-45 victory over then #22 Navy. This is the third time the Bulls will play a game at the historic Legion Field. Their last appearance was at the 2006 Papa John's Bowl, when they beat ECU, 24-7. Their previous game was the final game played by the University of Alabama in that stadium, which took place back in 2003. The Crimson Tide won that game handily, 40-17.
USF Offense
The Bulls finished 2016 with what is probably the best offense in school history, ranking 7th in the nation in scoring offense and 5th in rushing offense. Their offense has averaged better than 43 points per game. They had two players ranked in the top 30 in rushing totals, nationally, with quarterback Quinton Flowers sitting at 15th and running back Marlon Mack ranking 30th.
Flowers finished his junior campaign with 2,551 passing yards, an average of more than 212 per game. He completed 22 passes for touchdowns and threw just 6 interceptions. Flowers is ranked 10th in the nation for total offense, averaging more than 331 per game. On the ground, he accumulated 1,425 rushing yards and 15 more touchdowns.
The other half of the Bulls’ rushing attack was Mack, who racked up 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns. Also a junior, this is his third year breaking 1,000 yards rushing. His 7 yards rushing per attempt rank him 24th in the country. He has broken numerous program records and is USF’s career rushing leader.
With their success running the ball, they have relied less on passing the ball, ranking just 74th in the nation in this respect. Three receivers account for the majority of the receiving touchdowns on the team. Receiver, Rodney Adams, leads the pack with 755 receiving yards and five touchdowns on the season. Marquez Valdes-Scantling also has five touchdowns, but just over half the yardage, with 401. Tyre McCants had four scores, with 359 yards.
South Carolina Defense
Tasked with stopping the high-powered USF offense will be the 44th ranked Gamecocks defense. They allow their opponents just less than 25 points per game on average. Their defense is led by defensive back D.J. Smith, and linebacker, Bryson Allen-Williams, who each have 73 tackles this season. Defensive lineman, Darius English, leads the team with 9 sacks, which ranks him 23rd in the nation. Linebacker, T.J. Holloman, and defensive backs Chris Lammons and Jamarcus King, tie for the team lead in interceptions, with three each. The Gamecocks rank 88th, nationally, at stopping the run, allowing 203 yards per game. They allow about the same yardage against the pass, which ranks them 32nd. South Carolina does well with turnovers, though. Their 25-15 turnover margin ranks 11th best in the country.
South Carolina Offense
South Carolina’s scoring offense is ranked at the bottom of the FBS, at 122. They average less than 20 points per game on offense. Their passing offense is ranked 95th and their rushing offense is ranked 106th. Their total offensive output per game is 336 yards, on average.
Midway through the season, the Gamecocks were forced to look to true freshman quarterback, Jake Bentley, to save the season. The 4-2 ending of the season was his work, which was stark contrast to the 2-4 start. In his half of a season under center, Bentley averaged 171 yards per game, passing for six touchdowns and two interceptions. A pocket passer, Bentley has not accumulated positive rushing yards.
Receiver, Deebo Samuel, and tight end, Hayden Hurst, lead the team in offensive production, with 593 and 530 yards, respectively. However, it is tight end, K.C. Crosby, who leads the team in receiving catches for touchdowns, with four. Receiver, Bryan Edwards, is second on the team with three.
As their national rankings indicate, the Gamecocks do not have a strong running game. Two freshman running backs do most of the work, with Rico Dowdle leading A.J. Turner with 719 yards and six touchdowns. Turner has 448 yards and two scores.
USF Defense
As good as the Bulls are on offense, they are bad on defense. They rank 85th in the nation, allowing 31 points per game. Linebacker, Auggie Sanchez, leads the team with 108 tackles, ranking him 37th, nationally. He also has the most sacks on the team, with six. Defensive back, Deatrick Nichols, leads the team with four interceptions, 28th best in the nation. Their 21-15 turnover margin is just four less gains than the Gamecocks, ranking them 28th.
Expectations
The Bulls are going to score, but the pressure up front by the South Carolina defense will keep Flowers on the run. That’s good for the Gamecocks to get penetration on the line, but there are few in the FBS who can scramble and run better than Flowers. If he’s forced out of the pocket, expect him to find the holes opened up that allowed that penetration and get big yards on the ground.
The Gamecocks offense is very poor, but they will benefit by facing an equally poor USF defense. They will likely score a bit higher than their sub-20 point average, but probably won’t be able to reach the USF scoring level without a superb effort by their own defense.
The Bulls are 10 point favorites in the game, which has a 2 PM EST kickoff time. The game can be viewed nationally on ESPN.