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Re: 9-24-09
Savannah Sports
Todays Selections*
NCAA Football
3 (***) Mississippi -4.5
Savannah Sports
Todays Selections*
NCAA Football
3 (***) Mississippi -4.5
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Re: 9-24-09
Sportsnetwork
GAME NOTES: The only FBS game being played on Thursday night pits the fourth- ranked Ole Miss Rebels against the South Carolina Gamecocks in SEC action from Columbia, South Carolina. Ole Miss owns an 8-6 edge in the all-time series, but the Gamecocks managed to halt a five-game losing skid to the Rebels last season.
Ole Miss entered the 2009 campaign with tremendous hype, as head coach Houston Nutt is loaded with a level of talent that hasn't existed in Oxford for quite some time. The Rebels beat up on Memphis in the opener, and after a week off, they returned to the field last weekend to post a 52-6 victory over Southeastern Louisiana. Considering that both opponents are significantly inferior, we really don't know how good Ole Miss really is, but a prime time road clash with South Carolina figures to be revealing. The Rebels are riding an eight-game win streak, their longest since 1971-72.
"We know we are going into a very hostile environment," says Nutt of this week's matchup. "Their crowd is always hostile and loud - we're looking forward to that. We have always had a lot of respect for South Carolina and the athletes that they put on the field."
Speaking of the Gamecocks, they improved to 2-1 on the young season with a 38-16 thrashing of Florida Atlantic last weekend. USC suffered its only defeat in its only SEC game to date, a heartbreaking 41-37 road loss to Georgia. Steve Spurrier has yet to elevate the South Carolina program to the level of success he achieved as the head coach at Florida, and there is no reason to believe that this year's squad will be able to rise to the top of the talent- packed SEC.
Heading into this season, Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead was being billed as a darkhorse Heisman Trophy candidate. The strong-armed signal caller hasn't been spectacular, completing 56 percent of his passes for 384 yards to date, but he will be judged on his play against SEC competition. Dexter McCluster has nine catches for 113 yards, while Shay Hodge has eight receptions for 136 yards. Clearly, Snead has the necessary weapons in place to be successful. Brandon Bolden has rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries for the Rebels, and he figures to see an increase in his workload this week.
While Ole Miss is averaging 48.5 ppg, the team has limited its opponents to 10.0 ppg and 293.0 total ypg. Foes are gaining just 3.3 yards per rushing attempt and 9.2 yards per pass completion, so the Rebels have been good against both means of attack. Perhaps the most impressive stat of all is that Ole Miss has permitted opponents to make good on only 4-of-30 third down conversion attempts. Johnny Brown leads the team with 20 tackles, and he has an interception to his credit as well.
In the victory over Southeastern Louisiana last weekend, Ole Miss picked up 25 first downs and gained 500 total yards. The Rebels ran for 258 yards at a clip of 7.4 yards per rush. There were three rushing and three passing touchdowns scored, as the club marched up and down the field at will against the non-FBS opponent. On a down note, the Rebels turned the ball over twice in the tilt and allowed 302 yards despite giving up just six points.
When asked about the status of standout defensive end Greg Hardy, who has played sparingly because of an ankle injury, Nutt said, "He should be ready to go this week." That's great news for the Rebels.
Through three games, South Carolina is scoring 27.3 ppg while gaining 399.7 total ypg. Stephen Garcia is the team's quarterback, and he has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 683 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Garcia is athletic enough to make some plays as a runner as well, although Jarvis Giles and Brian Maddox are the two main ball carriers for the Gamecocks. Weslye Saunders is tops among receivers with 13 catches, but Tori Gurley leads the way with 180 receiving yards.
Defensively, South Carolina is yielding 20.0 ppg and 249.3 total ypg. The Gamecocks have been extremely tough against the run, permitting a mere 87.3 ypg on an average of 2.8 yards per rushing attempt. The pass defense has been strong as well, limiting opposing quarterbacks to 9.3 yards per completion. With seven takeaways and 10 sacks in three outings, USC has made a wealth of big plays. Eric Norwood is the star of the defense, and he is undoubtedly one of the most feared defenders in all of college football. The versatile athlete is listed as a linebacker but lines up at defensive end sometimes, and he has made 17 total tackles, including four sacks, and has intercepted a pass. Norwood has 26 career sacks, tying him for the most in program history.
In the 22-point romp over Florida Atlantic last weekend, Maddox scored three touchdowns, twice as a runner and once as a receiver. Still, he was held to 23 rushing yards on 10 attempts, while Giles rushed for 113 yards on 11 carries. Garcia was efficient under center, as he connected on 20-of-27 passes for 222 yards and a score.
"When we run the ball like that, we're going to be pretty tough to beat," said Garcia of the effort of Giles and company. "We just have to keep going like that going into the Ole Miss game."
The defense was strong against the run in the FAU tilt as usual, and three takeaways were registered by the Gamecocks. Clearly, this week's game presents a new and more difficult challenge.
"We just have to go out there and make it happen," said Norwood when asked about stopping Snead and the Ole Miss offense. "He's a good quarterback. We got pressure on him last year, and I don't see why we can't do it this year."
In a game that will be worth watching from start to finish, expect the Rebels to prevail in what should be a dogfight throughout. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ole Miss 24, South Carolina 17Comment
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Re: 9-24-09
Stan Sharp
Stan is Betting CHICAGO CUBS. Stan notes that this is the perfect spoiler situation for the Cubs as San Francisco returns home in a Must Win situation and yet is such a small favorite. This is a Trap the Cubs are a very live dog. Back the Cubs tonight with Dempster. TAKE CHICAGO CUBS as STAN'S THURSDAY NIGHT WISE GUY GAME and make them a DOUBLE DIME PLAY.Comment
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Re: 9-24-09
Trace Adams
1500* - Ole Miss Rebels Definitely tough to lay points on the road in the SEC, but I believe the Rebels have what it takes to pass this road test, and keep their record unblemished.
Last year South Carolina won a 31-24 decision in Oxford as the 2 1/2-point underdog. It is worth noting that that loss came immediately after the Rebs had defeated Florida in Gainsville 31-30 as the 3 touchdown-plus underdog the week prior. As you can see, the "letdown" factor was looming large in that game for the Rebels.
That is not the case this season, as Ole Miss has had some time to get ready for this revenge game, and they have the weapons to get that revenge.
South Carolina's secondary is the weak link in this game, and Ole Miss triggerman Jevon Snead has a pair of receivers in McCluster, and Hodge that can exploit the young Gamecocks secondary.
Carolina is just 2-5 as the home dog since 2006, while Ole Miss is on a 6-1 against the spread run away from home their last 7, including covering at Memphis to open the season this year.
Counting their bowl win to conclude the season last year, the Rebels have won their last 8 games. Look for them to up that mark to 9 in a row with the win and cover in Columbia tonight.
1500? - Ole Miss RebelsComment
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