NCAA Football – South Carolina is just stops from making history

We covered South Carolina’s story back in early October. Without much of a warning, the South Carolina Gamecocks had pulled off one of its most clever and memorable upsets in the program’s history. The Gamecocks defeated at home the NCAA defending champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Not only did they won its first game ever against a No.1 ranked school, but -check this out- they outplayed the man who had ridiculed its defense on the previous season: Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.

Head Coach Steve Spurrier was finally able to break the spell and South Carolina defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 35 to 21. The Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia had one of his best nights ever. If you are into numbers, Garcia completed 17 of 20 for 201 yards and three touchdown-passes. Freshman Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina outplayed Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Lattimore completed 23 carriages and for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ingram, on the other hand, went completed 11 for 41 yards and no touchdowns.

This weekend, many things could change. The guys from South Carolina are going to head on to Florida and play their hearts for the SEC East Crown. There has been 117 seasons of South Carolina football. Only once, back in 1969 had the people in Columbus, South Carolina celebrated an ACC Championship. Let it be noticed, that they haven’t got this close to win again, since. Until this week, when the Gamecocks face the Florida Gators in what could be their second biggest upset of the season.

Since its win over the No. 1 team in the nation, the Gamecocks have had a somewhat irregular series against 4 teams. The record since they crushed Alabama: 2-2. The Gamecocks had to go into overdrive to leave behind Vanderbilt and Tennessee, and, let’s be frank, their game against Arkansas last weekend, wasn’t the prettiest showcase of football ever.

But here is the key to this all. If South Carolina defeats Florida, it will have a Ticket to play the Auburn Tigers. Ok, I know its not official yet, but taking into account the marvelous season that the Auburn Tigers have had, there is a good chance that those boys are going to win the SEC West. So, if we take a quick look at the references, one could assume that whether Florida or South Carolina makes it to the SEC Championship Game, there is still a fairly good chance that either team could upset the Auburn Tigers.

Historically, the SEC West has been the weaker end of the conference. What we need to focus on here is on a simple fact: most any team in the SEC West has been much stronger then any other team in the SEC East this season. And here is where the Gamecocks have to react. South Carolina is not a big school. We have already talked about this issue on another blog entry. South Carolina is not one of those elite football program schools in the country we expect to see each year in the Bowl Games. The Florida Gators, on the other hand, is one of those teams.

What’s the difference? Well, the Gator will always have a better chance next year. For the Gamecocks this season might be as good as it gets for a long-long while. And if that is not enough motivation to go out there and put their hearts out on the field, then they probably don’t deserve a chance at SEC Championship Game.

the Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation

It doesn't get any better than a horse race that has a public holiday for it. The Melbourne Cup will be run tomorrow (3pm local time, 4am GMT). This may be the strongest Cup ever, it's certainly the best in my era with Group 1 winners galore, but it also has a few that should have been excluded on recent form.

So You Think is an absolute superstar. It showed on Saturday it can settle, go to sleep and then switch back on when necessary. That's what Saintly did to win in 1996, and only a rough trip in running is likely to beat him. From gate three, he might just squeezed and shuffled back a bit. Even still, very hard to beat him, no major concern about the distance despite not having run further than 2040m, High Chaparral's are flying in Aus at the moment and it would be fitting for the 150th Melbourne Cup to go to the master, Bart Cummings.

As for the others:

Shocking - won last year, goes up in weight, but loves Flemington. Was drawn v.wide last year so not bothered by that.

Campanologist - Godolphin horse which will keep on running, but doubt he can win. German and Italian form is not up to this.

Zipping - jolly old fellow, a 9yo running as well as ever, but can't see him better his previous record of two fourths.

Illustrious Blue - don't rate him, this isn't Goodwood. Does have G.Boss aboard though.

Mr Medici - Hong Kong horse who ran well in the Caulfield Cup despite the swamplike conditions. Not a million to one.

Shoot Out - early spring form in the sprints, now looking more like a stayer. AJC Derby winner in the autumn, ran home nicely on Saturday in the Mackinnon. I'm on him at 33/1 but struggle to see him beating the fav.

Americain - impressive in the Geelong Cup when didn't have much room until late but ran on well to win. Mosse to ride, will like the give in the ground. Best of the foreigners.

Tokai Trick - 9yo Japanese horse, super-tough stayer, but surely a 9yo can't win the strongest Cup in memory? Will keep on going though, chance for the exotics.

Buccellati - travesty that this horse is in the field ahead of others with better form this year. No hope.

Descarado - won the Caulfield Cup in extreme conditions. Drawn 1, must push forward or will get locked away. Top run on Saturday as well.


Harris Tweed - 2nd in the Caulfield Cup, fifth in this race last year, chances improved on very wet track, but dour enough to get into the placings on firmer ground too.

Manighar - Cumani import, ran fifth at Caulfield, will appreciate firmer ground. Drawn wide but decent chance.

Master O'Reilly - fourth in 08 and09 but has done nothing this year. Lucky to be in the field.

Monaco Consul - third at Caulfield, another High Chaparral, will keep on running. Last year's VRC Derby winner.

Profound Beauty - the hyped Dermot Weld horse. She ran fifth in 2008 but the field that year was decimated by equine influenza and the travel restrictions in Australia. She's now 7, has been beating small fields in Ireland, and now she's drawn gate 22 of 24. Can't see her in the money.

Zavite - 19th of 22 last year, unlikely to do much better.

Bauer - 2nd in 2008 (see Profound Beauty), hardly raced since. Cumani runner, could surprise but will be leaving him out of my exotcs.

Holberg - the more highly-rated Godolphin runner. Will go forward, Frankie is desperate to win this race after so many placings over the years, on horses from this stable which weren't given much hope. 3200m no problem for him having won over that distance at Royal Ascot as a 3yo.

Precedence - flying this spring but ran dead last in the Sydney Cup in the autumn. Received a controversial penalty to get into the field at the expense of a few others, don't think he deserved it - you can't justify him being within 2.5kg of SYT.

Red Ruler - how on earth is this horse in the field? A million to one.

Linton - up and coming stayer who gives the impression he'll be better next year. Owned by Lloyd Williams who has won this race on more than one occasion.

Once Were Wild - AJC Oaks winner, better run on Saturday but more to find to trouble these.

Maluckyday - got into the field by winning very impressively on Saturday. That's the same formline and weight as Shocking won with last year. Must be a chance, Saturday's jockey (who can't make the weight) described him as the best stayer he'd ridden since Kiwi, the Cup winner of 1983.....

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Two schools of thought here - either the favourite wins easily so concentrate on finding value in the placings to land the trifecta and First 4, or the fav is a risk and anything could win.

Will be going wide in the SYT banker trifectas, including runners at juicy odds such as Campanologist, Linton, Mr Medici, Monaco Consul.

Set your clocks, I'll be staying up all night.... Can't wait!Posted byScott Fergusonat13:43