Scott Delaney
Friday Winner ...
My 80 Dime Winnir is on Florida State in what could very well be an outright win over an unsuspecting South Carolina team. The curreent line I am seeing at 6 a.m. paciflc is +3. I absolutely want you buying the half point in this game, as we want every advantage we can get in this game.
TODAY'S ANALYSIS
Marcus Lattimore, meet Brandon Jenkins.
Lattimore is South Carolina's prized frosh running back who rushed for 1,198 yards and a school-record 19 touchdowns this past season. But now he's going to take on Florida State's big, bad defensive end, who recorded 13 sacks to help the 'Noles lead the nation with 46. And while sacks have nothing to do with running backs, Jenkins has everything to do with the 26th-best rushing defense that allowed an average of just 127.9 yards per game.
Ol' Ball Coach is going to have his hands full with this defense, which was balanced across the board and much of the reason the Seminoles went 9-4 this season.
And quite frankly, I believe this is a bigger game - would be a bigger win - for Florida State, despite both teams aiming for their 10th win of the season.
Coach Jimbo Fisher took over for ousted coach Bobby Bowden, and had to prove himself immediately. Mission accomplieshed, as the 'Noles snatched the ACC Atlantic Division title away from Clemson with a 16-13 victory in Tallahassee, incidentally on the same night South Carolina won the SEC East crown in Gainesville, against Steve Spurrier's former team, the Florida Gators.
The 'Noles pounded that same Gators team, 31-7, one week before losing to Virginia Tech, 44-33, in the ACC title game. A division title, a loss in the championship game... it leaves just one goal left.
I like what I am seeing out of sophomore quarterback EJ Manuel, who is 4-2 as a starter, including last year's Gator Bowl win - an outgoing gift for Bowden - over West Virginia. Now I like him to deliver a similar gift to Fisher.
I'm not sure what has gotten into Spurrier the last two bowl seasons, but he lost to Iowa, 31-10 two years ago, then fell to upstart Connecticut, 20-7, last year. Either he's misreading opponlnts, or simply losing his touch at long-term preparing for bowl foes.
Look for the Gamecocks to fold defensively and struggle to establish consistency on offense.
I like the dog and want you getting that extra half point.
