South Carolina vs. Navy

• Con_Alma

  The early line is Gamecocks minus 17.5 to 18.5.
  
  Spurrier has no history vs. a true triple option offense. The DC Ellis Johnson was the head coach at The Citadel where they ran the triple option. How they defend it will be interesting.
  
  This game might come down to Navy having any ability to defend SC's offense and the turn over game. Navy simply doesn't match up well speed and size wise with SC.
  
  More pregame information to follow.
• Con_Alma

  Navy and No. 11 South Carolina will meet for the eighth time in series history and for the first time since 1988.
  
  Storylines
  A victory over No. 11 South Carolina would be the biggest upset (by ranking) by a Navy team since the Mids stunned No. 2 South Carolina, 38-21, in 1984.
  
  Navy will be looking to beat a ranked opponent for the first time since 2009 when the Midshipmen upset No. 19/21 Notre Dame, 23-21, in South Bend. The Mids defeated No. 15/16 Wake Forest in 2008, 24-21.
  
  The Mids last played a school from the SEC in 2004 when Navy knocked off Jay Cutler and the Vanderbilt Commodores, 29-26. Navy also defeated Vanderbilt in Nashville in 2003, 37-27.
  
  The Mids are 2-0 for the first time since 2006. Navy started 3-0 that year before dropping an overtime decision to Tulsa.
  
  The Mids are leading the nation in rushing, averaging 400.5 yards per game on the ground. Navy is eighth in the country in pass efficiency (194.03)
  
  Navy is 24-2 under Niumatalolo when scoring first, 18-3 when leading after the first quarter, 19-3 when leading at the half and 24-0 when leading after three quarters.
  
  Navy has scored 40 or more points in back-to-back games (40 against Delaware and Western Kentucky) for the first time in the Niumatalolo era and for the first time since 2007 when Navy scored 52 against Delaware, 46 against Notre Dame and 74 against North Texas.
  
  Scouting South Carolina
  South Carolina is the most physically talented football team the Mids have faced in recent memory. The 11th-ranked Gamecocks are currently 2-0 with victories over East Carolina (56-37) and Georgia (45-42). The 56 points against East Carolina is even more impressive when you consider that last week the Pirates gave up just 17 to Virginia Tech.
  
  The Gamecocks are led offensively by tailback Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, two of the best players in the country at their respective positions. Lattimore has rushed for 288 yards and four touchdowns on 50 carries (seventh best in the country for rushing yds/gm), while Jeffery has 10 catches for 177 yards and one touchdown. Stephen Garcia is one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC. He is 18-40 passing for 252 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions this season.
  
  Antonio Allen leads the defense with 22 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. Stephon Gilmore has 14 tackles and a fumble recovery. Defensive end Jadveon Clowney was the top high school player in the country last fall and he’s already made an impact in Columbia, recording two sacks and forcing a fumble.
  
  South Carolina is ranked 21st in the country in rushing offense (236.5), fourth in scoring offense (50.5) and 18th in punt returns (15.4).
  
  
  Navy vs. The SEC
  Navy is 9-9-2 all-time against the SEC.
  
  
  Navy Vs. Ranked Opponents
  Navy’s 23-21 victory over No. 19 Notre Dame in 2009 marked the first time since 1984-85 that Navy has beaten a Top-25 team in back-to-back seasons. The Mids defeated No. 16 Wake Forest in 2008, 24-21.
  
  It marked the first time an unranked Navy team defeated a ranked Notre Dame team since 1936 when the Mids beat No. 13 Notre Dame, 3-0.
  
  Navy has not beaten more than one ranked team in a season since 1957, when it defeated No. 5 Notre Dame (20-6), No. 10 Army (27-20) and No. 8 Rice (20-7) in the Cotton Bowl.
  
  
  Navy Vs. the BCS / Non-BCS
  Since 2003, Navy owns an 18-21 (.462) record against schools from a BCS conference and a 54-12 record (.818) against non-BCS foes. Navy’s 18 BCS wins are the most by a non-BCS school since 2003.
  
  Navy has beaten at least one BCS opponent in eight-consecutive years, which is the second-longest active streak in the country by a non-BCS school. TCU has had at least one BCS win in nine-consecutive seasons.
• Con_Alma

  http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/nas/2011/09/13-28/Gamecocks-as-good-as-Navy-gets.html
  
  "...Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green, "This team is as good as any team we've ever faced."..."
  
  "..."You've got to beat them," Spurrier said. "They don't beat themselves. Every time we play one of those teams that runs that option it's been difficult for us. We've got to come ready to play or it could be a long night."..."
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Navy will have its hands full with South Carolina. If they catch a few breaks, the Midshipmen can pull off the upset.
  
  Good luck Navy.
• Azubuike24

  

  I actually bet this game. USC big IMO.
• Con_Alma

  The defense for Navy will be overwhelmed athletically. They must have long sustained drives offensively to shorten this game as much as possible.
• vball10set

  Sorry Con_Alma, but Lattimore makes a Heisman statement this Saturday and will rush for 200+ yards--it's gonna' be ugly.
• Mulva

  

  South Carolina will win, but the spread will be close. I'll take them by 14-21 points.
• Con_Alma

  No apology need vball. I know what's coming. It's just another game the Mids are going into battle undermanned.
  
  Same old, same old.
  
  Just hope they can keep it close.
• vball10set

  anchors aweigh, Alma :thumbup:
• Con_Alma

  Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead!
• Con_Alma

  http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/sep/14/option-to-test-uscnavy-option-will-test-gamecocks/
  
  "On paper, it appears to be a huge mismatch. One of those David vs. Goliath scenarios. But it's probably not the mismatch one would think about when a team like Navy takes on a top 10 Southeastern Conference team like South Carolina.
  Most would quickly conclude that it's the Gamecocks -- the defending SEC East champs -- who would have the clear advantage in nearly every facet going into Saturday night's game at Williams-Brice Stadium.
  
  
  
  
  Five times in the last eight seasons, the Midshipmen have led the nation in rushing. The Midshipmen's option-style attack led the nation in rushing for four straight seasons from 2005-08, while averaging more than 321 yards per game on the ground. This season is no exception. Navy is averaging an eye-popping 400.5 yards per game. A year ago, Navy had nearly 600 yards of total offense, including 521 rushing yards, as it crushed East Carolina, 76-35, on the road.
  
  The Gamecocks, meanwhile, have struggled defensively in their first two games against East Carolina and Georgia, giving up an average of 39.5 points and 390.5 yards a game. After two weeks, USC is ranked 110th nationally in scoring defense and 76th in total defense. That's a far cry from a year ago, when the Gamecocks had the nation's 12th-ranked rushing defense.
  
  "We're just not tackling very well right now," said South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.
  
  "We've got kids out there who just can't seem to function right now."
  
  Too many missed tackles, too many mental mistakes and too many blown assignments have the Gamecocks shuffling some of their personnel, especially in the secondary.
  
  DeVonte Holloman, a spur, was moved to strong safety during Monday's practice, while D.J. Swearinger was switched from strong safety to free safety. Jimmy Legree, who started at free safety in the first two games, will back up Swearinger.
  
  "Jimmy didn't do a very good job of tackling on Saturday, and he knows it," said USC defensive backs coach Lorenzo Ward.
  
  "In this game, you need physical safeties that can fight through blocks and get to the pitch man."
  
  The play of the secondary and the linebackers will be a key for the Gamecocks.
  
  
  
  "The option is really all about perimeter football," said Gamecocks defensive line coach Brad Lawing.
  "The option is built to negate a defensive line. They squeeze everything down and they try to get everything outside. A lot of the time with the option you're in one-on-one situations, so you've got to do a good job of tackling in open space," he said.
  Stopping the Midshipmen will mean playing smarter, more disciplined defense than the Gamecocks have played up to this point in the season.
  "We've got to be fundamentally sound," said USC defensive tackle Travian Robertson. "There is no room for errors against these guys. We've got to play very sound up front and everyone has to play their assignments. You make one mistake up front or on defense, and they'll hit a big play on you.""
• tk421

  

  Navy with the early lead in the 2nd, 14 - 7.
• tk421

  

  That triple option is nasty.
• Azubuike24

  

  Mad props to Navy. This was one of the best and tightest games of the day. South Carolina may just be ready for one of those special seasons. They could be 0-3 right now...
• vball10set

  ^^^ +1
  
  Alma, even though it was a loss, what an excellent showing by the Midshipmen...well done!!!
• Rotinaj

  

  Would of been a great win for Navy. Was definitely pulling for them.
• queencitybuckeye

  Azubuike24;895632 wrote:I actually bet this game. USC big IMO.

  Good call.
• Con_Alma

  It took everyone of Lattimore's career day rushing yards for South Carolina to eek out a 3 point win. I knew the challenge was going to be SC's offense vs. Navy's defense. They weren't too awfully bad but were over powered by Lattimore.
• Azubuike24

  

  queencitybuckeye;901314 wrote:Good call.

  Even the best are wrong
  
  Actually, I'm far from the best. One of the worst yesterday. Definitely in the red.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Navy playing a prime time game against a top 25 team? Good times for program. Congrats on a well played game.
• Con_Alma

  THE4RINGZ;901401 wrote:Navy playing a prime time game against a top 25 team? Good times for program. Congrats on a well played game.

  Not a bad weekend for the service academies.
  
  Army beat Northwestern while Air Force was idle.
• Con_Alma

  In another spread option game...former Navy Head Coach Paul Johnson leads Georgia Tech over Kansas with 768 total yards & 66 points!
• queencitybuckeye

  Azubuike24;901391 wrote:Even the best are wrong
  
  Actually, I'm far from the best. One of the worst yesterday. Definitely in the red.

  You're an honest man. Only two groups of people claim to make money betting games: 1) liars and 2) liars.
• Con_Alma

  [video=youtube;3v81xwQ_LDM][/video]