Game of the day: Central Florida at South Carolina
Jeff Mason
University of Central Florida Golden Knights at University of South Carolina Gamecocks
The line: USC is a 21-point favorite
The total: The total is set at 49 points.
Spurrier, Spurrier, Spurrier.
Is there really anything else to talk about?
You don’t have to love Steve Spurrier. Heck, you don’t even have to like him. But when the Ol’ Ball Coach dons his trademark visor to traipse the sidelines once again, you have to take notice.
The media certainly did.
Spurrier’s return prompted a game originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon to be moved to Thursday night. Why? It certainly wasn’t so George O’Leary could update his resume. It was so America could watch Spurrier in primetime.
They will certainly get that chance when the South Carolina Gamecocks face O’Leary’s Central Florida Golden Knights. UCF finished with a 0-11 record last season, 3-8 against the spread.
Oh yeah, want another example of the Spurrier allure? The University of Central Florida is coming to primetime.
This is a team that was ranked No. 117 in the polls last year. Out of 117 teams.
UCF used to dog status
Not that the Gamecocks were much better, at least against the spread. Under Lou Holtz, South Carolina went 6-5 last season, but managed only 4-7 ATS, finishing a consensus 56th in the country.
Another staggering number in this game is the point spread- the Gamecocks are currently installed as 21-point favorites. This isn’t anything new to Central Florida. The Golden Knights were asked to cover four games over 20 points last season, but only covered their largest as 26-point underdogs in a 20-3 loss to Marshall.
If last year is any indication, South Carolina may have to shut them out to cover the spread. The ‘Cocks averaged just 22.1 points per game last year, ranking them 86th in the nation.
Return of the Fun n’ Gun
Futility on offense is why Spurrier is now sporting the Garnet and Black. His Fun n’ Gun offense put up over 500 points in four straight years at Florida. But that was with his players.
Spurrier’s new team is built for a smash-mouth football. All three of his quarterbacks cut their teeth in running offenses, even in high school. He is also without would-be senior Troy Williamson. The one explosive player on the Gamecocks last season was drafted seventh overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
With no offensive talent in sight, will Spurrier try to fit a square peg into a round hole?
"We are trying to put in the same plan, maybe even a little better plan, than what we put in at Florida,” Spurrier told The Gamecock. “I`ll call the plays and run the offense."
Yup.
Blake Mitchell has been anointed to showcase the Fun n’ Gun. In five games last year, the sophomore quarterback completed 9-of-22 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
"We felt like Blake is much better prepared mentally, physically," Spurrier told the Carolina State. "He`s had an excellent summer working out. It`s clear to all of us here that he`s our best guy to go out there."
Same old Golden Knights
Central Florida counters with – well – how can this be put nicely?
A team didn’t win a game last year has lost the school’s career rushing leader (graduation) and this year’s quarterback of choice (Kyle Israel, out with a fractured right leg). They also lost 78 of the 113 catches the team made last year when Luther Huggins (42 receptions) and Tavaris Capers (36) graduated.
Steve Moffat will be at the helm by default. O’Leary wasn’t impressed with his presence as starter last year and played Kyle Isreal for the last three games of the season.
The Knight’s defense was equally poor last season, allowing opponents to convert 40 percent of third downs and 86 percent of fourth downs.
The defense returns seven starters which O’Leary claims is “A good thing and a bad thing.” He adds, “There are some serious issues to be fixed here.”
JT
Sneaks