Here’s a preview and prediction for the Birmingham Bowl between South Florida and South Carolina.
With 2017 getting closer, bowl games will fill up the days before the new year kicks off. One of them will see South Florida and South Carolina battle in the Birmingham Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 29. This is set to take place at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL.
USF recently lost head coach Willie Taggart to Oregon to the same position, so they hired former Texas head coach Charlie Strong. He’ll take over for the 2017 season. Taggart led the Bulls to a very successful season, as they went 10-2. It marked a third consecutive year where this school improved by two wins.
The Bulls have been led by quarterback Quinton Flowers, who had a monster 2016 season. This saw him put up 2,551 passing yards and 1,425 rushing yards with 37 total touchdowns. Given the lack of coverage USF receives, Flowers never got much recognition in the mainstream media. If he continues this production on Thursday and in his senior season, then this may change quickly.
Besides Flowers, running back Marlon Mack also had a terrific season. This saw him put up 1,137 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He and Flowers led USF to having over 3,500 rushing yards, an incredible feat.
South Carolina had a surprisingly successful season under first-year head coach Will Muschamp. They went 6-6 with a roster that not many expected to produce, but they were able to just sneak into the bowl season.
Jake Bentley got named the starting quarterback late into the season when the Gamecock offense was struggling mightily. It turned out poor with just 27 offensive touchdowns, but this true freshman did enough to keep the job for potentially the long-term. How will he fare against South Florida?
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This rushing game of South Florida’s may be too much for South Carolina to handle in the Birmingham Bowl. It could lead to a lopsided, one-sided affair, something SC probably can’t handle. The Bulls will win this, 37-17.