Illinois vs. SC

[AikenGameFan]

So, what do you think?
Right now, they have us as 9.5 pt. favorites. Personally, I think they give Illini to much credit.
Looking at their stats, they really do not look like much. They beat Kansas, Nebraska, and Michigan when they were still ranked but none of them are in the top 25 now. They lost to Penn St., Oregon, and Minnesota.
Their offensive line has not done that good. They give up 2.5 sacks per game. They gave up 7 sacks against Penn. St.

I think out D will have a field day against them. Dylan Stewart will be covered a lot allowing Thomas to show he learned plenty filling in for Kennard this season. TJ and Tonka will have a great day too. I think we will have at least 5 sacks. Their QB only has 5 Int's but he gave up 2 in his last game against Northwestern when he was only sacked twice. I think once he is busy running from our DL he will throw a couple more.

Adaway is going to have his best day yet in this game. and Howell will finally show why being the FCS Freshman All-America and MEAC Rookie of the year can translate into being a good RB at the FBS level. And Ashford will get to play when we get a big lead.

I mean WOW. We are on the way to a 10-win season, and I do not think the Illini can stop us. They are going to see why some are saying SC is one of the best teams in the country right now.

What do I think?
Gamecocks 42 Illini 13

What do you think?

 

[hahnenkampf]

So, what do you think?
Right now, they have us as 9.5 pt. favorites. Personally, I think they give Illini to much credit.
Looking at their stats, they really do not look like much. They beat Kansas, Nebraska, and Michigan when they were still ranked but none of them are in the top 25 now. They lost to Penn St., Oregon, and Minnesota.
Their offensive line has not done that good. They give up 2.5 sacks per game. They gave up 7 sacks against Penn. St.

I think out D will have a field day against them. Dylan Stewart will be covered a lot allowing Thomas to show he learned plenty filling in for Kennard this season. TJ and Tonka will have a great day too. I think we will have at least 5 sacks. Their QB only has 5 Int's but he gave up 2 in his last game against Northwestern when he was only sacked twice. I think once he is busy running from our DL he will throw a couple more.

Adaway is going to have his best day yet in this game. and Howell will finally show why being the FCS Freshman All-America and MEAC Rookie of the year can translate into being a good RB at the FBS level. And Ashford will get to play when we get a big lead.

I mean WOW. We are on the way to a 10-win season, and I do not think the Illini can stop us. They are going to see why some are saying SC is one of the best teams in the country right now.

What do I think?
Gamecocks 42 Illini 13

What do you think?

I didn’t think Ashford would be allowed to play once he entered the transfer portal.

 

[AikenGameFan]

I didn’t think Ashford would be allowed to play once he entered the transfer portal.

Last week Beamer had the team vote on it and they decided to let him join them in the Bowl. Everyone understands him wanting to get a chance to be the starter his last year. That is why he got in the portal and that is why Beamer decided to let the team vote on it.
And, if Sellers were to get hurt, we did not have anyone else with Ashford's experience. I hope Sellers does not get hurt and he does get to play because we are winning so big. I also hope it improves his chances of being picked up elsewhere to start for them.

 

[Flameout12]

Bowl games are like the 1st game of the season. Lots can happen when a team is rusty.

Let's just win!

 

[CockySC01]

Hard to say with opt outs and all.

 

[ElectricalCock89]

Can transfer players play?

 

[uscwatson21]

Can transfer players play?

The players who are transferring can play with their current teams.

 

[cockymark]

Without Rocket and Kennard it will be close.

 

[cocks rule]

Without Rocket and Kennard it will be close.

Don’t think so, at least I hope not lol

 

[detective29]

I'm not underestimating any opponent. Too many bad memories of other times where we had the better team and....

Hoping we play well and pull out a win. Hopefully our other running backs can step up and keep the Illinois defense honest. Go Cocks!!

 

[hahnenkampf]

The players who are transferring can play with their current teams.

If the coach allows them to play. In previous years Beamer wouldn’t allow them to play if they entered the portal.

 

[DeeDave]

I will be there at the game.

My guess is it will be a tough, hard fought game between two teams that had good seasons and believe they should win the game.

I am sure their coach still has some bad feelings about his time in the SEC and will be trying to get his team focused on beating an SEC team. So I think he has probably convinced them that the SEC gives them no respect and that's what I'd be doing too.

So I think it's going to be tough.

 

[Lurker123]

Has anyone looked at who Illinois has playing/sitting out?

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

Even without Kennard and Rocket, we are more talented than them, so we should win. Regular season, I don't think it is even close. But in a meaningless bowl game, anything could happen. Nobody cares about playing Illinois, and playing a SEC team in a bowl for most teams is a big deal because it gives them the chance to get some credibility if they win. I think we get their best effort, so our guys better really want it.

 

[Ward Jr]

I will be there at the game.

We gathered that when you repeatedly announced booking hotel rooms across the globe before even the regular season concluded.

Happy Holidays, Gomer. Thank you for being you.

 

[Ward Jr]

Today's (non-playoff) bowls are as close to a zero sum game as there is.

It's almost like the NFL's Pro Bowl at this point.

Typically, scouts don't pay much attention to these matchups because they realize these players out of regular season rhythm and deep in the holiday break.

Hopefully, our guys will not only be ready and motivated to play the game - but will also play without hesitation of injury in an otherwise needless affair.

If that happens, I think we can probably overcome not having probably our 2nd and 3rd most important players on a team with not many stars/depth, simply because we're the more battled-tested squad.

We'll probably have to lean heavily on our defense.

If they play at even at 80-85% of what it did most of this season, we'll win by a couple of TDs.

My shot in the dark -- 31-17 for the good guys.

 

[ElectricalCock89]

I will be there at the game.

My guess is it will be a tough, hard fought game between two teams that had good seasons and believe they should win the game.

I am sure their coach still has some bad feelings about his time in the SEC and will be trying to get his team focused on beating an SEC team. So I think he has probably convinced them that the SEC gives them no respect and that's what I'd be doing too.

So I think it's going to be tough.

Did you cancel the other 12 hotels you booked?

 

[DeeDave]

Did you cancel the other 12 hotels you booked?

I canceled several around the airport. Not sure how many.
You obviously don't know, but it's not hard to do.

 

[bayrooster]

I'm not underestimating any opponent. Too many bad memories of other times where we had the better team and....

Hoping we play well and pull out a win. Hopefully our other running backs can step up and keep the Illinois defense honest. Go Cocks!!

We have a long history of not playing well in bowl games. Add to that being depleted by opt-outs and transfers. It's also easy to underestimate an opponent who doesn't have strong brand recognition like an Ohio State or ND.

 

[ElectricalCock89]

I canceled several around the airport. Not sure how many.
You obviously don't know, but it's not hard to do.

Lmfao! Funny! Coming from the guy who said this team was trash, is now going to the bowl. Or is just all talk….

 

[DeeDave]

Lmfao! Funny! Coming from the guy who said this team was trash, is now going to the bowl. Or is just all talk….

I said our team was "trash?" It would be interesting to find out where on the board I said such a thing.

For the record, I predicted 6 wins (post # 448 on August 17th) before the season started in a post defending Coach Beamer and then said anything "more than that would be gravy" but also admitted that I am poor at predicting things.

 

[detective29]

I did see where the Illinois top wide receiver declared and will not be playing in the bowl.