South Carolina Bowl Scuttlebutt

I want to congratulate Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecock football team for achieving a 10-win season (the second 10-win season ever in school history) and prolonging the agony of our Clemson brethren. As USC clinched its tenth win of the season, I began to play out the scenarios where South Carolina might welcome in the 2012 New Year. Ten wins is a milestone in the eyes of bowl committee executives who view on the field success right behind financial benefit for the city hosting the bowl game. Getting to the ten-win plateau is insurance that Carolina will not fall below the Cotton Bowl, IMHO. Here is the pecking order for the SEC in the bowl tie-ins:

1. BCS Championship
2. Sugar Bowl
3. Capital One Bowl
4. Cotton Bowl
5. Outback Bowl
6. Peach Bowl
7. Music City Bowl
8. Liberty Bowl
9. BBVA Compass Bowl

Now, once LSU and Alabama are chosen for the BCS Championship game, in a rematch of the November 5th tilt in Tuscaloosa won by LSU 9-6 in overtime, the next selection belongs to the Capital One Bowl played on January 2nd in Orlando, FL. Historically, the Capital One Bowl, formerly the Citrus Bowl, selects the highest BCS ranked SEC team not chosen for a BCS bowl. In this scenario, Arkansas (ranked 8th in BCS) would get the nod over USC & Georgia. But do not count out the Capital One Bowl and the Cotton Bowl working out an agreement so that the Cotton Bowl can pit Arkansas with a potential opponent like Oklahoma or Oklahoma State, which would draw huge crowds to Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, TX.

IMHO, if either Oklahoma or Oklahoma State is selected as the Big 12 representative in the Cotton Bowl then 100% guarantee the Razorbacks are headed to Dallas, TX. Remember Arkansas Alum Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is the head honcho in Dallas and presumably carries a lot of weight in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. If Jones can wrangle an advantage for his Razorbacks to play in the Cotton Bowl against a storied program like Oklahoma, then you better believe Arkansas will play in “Big D”. Also it is highly likely that Razorbacks fans would travel in greater numbers to Dallas versus Orlando.

So bottom line, if Oklahoma or Oklahoma State is chosen to play in the Cotton Bowl then bank on Arkansas being the opponent from the SEC. If something quirky happens and Kansas State is selected as the Big 12’s representative then USC’s chances of going to the Lone Star state increase.

With the scenario I just laid out, South Carolina would be selected ahead of Arkansas to represent the SEC in the Capital One Bowl. IMHO, the Gamecocks are the leader in the clubhouse to end up in Orlando, FL. South Carolina has never played in the Capital One Bowl as a member of the SEC. USC did play in the Tangerine Bowl back in 1975, which was played in Orlando. The Capital One Bowl has the largest payout ($4.25 million/team) of any non-BCS bowl. The opponent would be a team from the Big 10, more than likely the loser (Wisconsin or Michigan State) of the inaugural Big 10 Championship Game. If Wisconsin beats Michigan State, then I would expect USC’s opponent to possibly be Nebraska or Michigan State. The Spartans played last year in the Capital One Bowl against Alabama and were clobbered (49-7). If Michigan State defeats Wisconsin, then USC’s opponent in the Capital One Bowl would be the Wisconsin Badgers.

IMHO, there is no way USC goes back to the Outback Bowl for the fourth time in the last eleven years. The last time USC ventured to Tampa (January 1, 2009) the outcome was horrendous for USC both on the field (31-10 loss to Iowa) and in the stands, with little USC representation at Raymond-James Stadium. So IMHO, Georgia will be selected for this bowl game unless they upset LSU in the SEC Championship. Both USC and Outback Bowl officials feel the 2009 experience still leaves a bad taste in the mouths on both sides. Georgia has not been to the Outback Bowl since 2004 and UGA Quarterback Aaron Murray hails from Plant HS, which is located in Tampa.

South Carolina Bowl Percentages:
Capital One Bowl: 60%
Cotton Bowl: 35%
Outback Bowl: 5%

I expect South Carolina to be playing in Orlando, FL in the Capital One Bowl come January 2012. This could be very beneficial to USC in recruiting the I-4 corridor of central Florida (Tampa/St.Petersburg, Orlando and the Space Coast area of eastern Florida). Any exposure in the state of Florida for the Gamecocks will be valuable in establishing recruiting relationships with rising 2013 & 2014 prospects. All four major BCS-level Florida schools (Florida, FSU, Miami and South Florida) suffered losing or less-than-stellar seasons. Publicity in the state of Texas will increase for USC now that Texas A&M has joined the SEC, but the Gamecocks can get a head start on exposing Texas football recruits to the Gamecocks brand should we attend the Cotton Bowl. Plus it never hurts to have a coach like Steve Spurrier, quote machine, playing up the Gamecocks in the Dallas media leading up to the Cotton Bowl. My preference would be the Cotton Bowl, but I would be thrilled for the Capital One Bowl if USC is chosen.

My next blog will be Thursday when I’ll reveal my USC MVPs and update on USC football recruiting.

Go Gamecocks!