Game 2: #24 Texas at #9 South Carolina

Before we get to virtual playoff action, here are some news and notes based in reality from over the weekend:

Stewart Mandel talks about the possible effect a playoff could have on scheduling strategy:  

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/stewart_mandel/02/10/bcs-playoff-strength-of-schedule/index.html?sct=cf_t11_a0

Arizona St’s President proposes an 8 team playoff that he will present to other Pac 12 presidents, says the Pac 12 does NOT support the current system:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/10/sun-devils-prez-pushing-for-an-eight-team-playoff/

Official announcement on the West Virginia/Big East dispute coming soon according to a WVU source. Agreement looks like this: $15 million damages, $5 million exit fee. The Big 12 is contributing $9 million cash and WVU is contributing $11 million from a combination of cash, previous payments ($2.5 million on exit fee) and withholdings from the conference distributions due WVU:  http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/big-east-west-virginia-reach-agreement-on-exit-021012

There was a meeting Sunday between CUSA and MWC rumored to finalize the merger: http://www.lvrj.com/sports/mountain-west-conference-usa-to-discuss-merger-139035019.html

If West Virginia leaves the Big East in 2012, it appears Boise St could be leaving the MWC early to take their place:  http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/29532522/34773204  

NCAA rule change proposals include: Moving kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 and limiting the running start to 5 yards, if you lose your helmet you must stop play and sit out the following play as well, some blocking below the waste changes, some blocking on punt return changes:  http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7560237/ncaa-proposes-moving-kickoffs-30-35

Now back to the playoffs.  If you missed the opening post explaining the concept, check here:  http://short-sideoption.blogspot.com/2012/02/ok-cowboy-cardinal-and-duck-fans-this.html

Game 2:  #24 Texas at #9 South Carolina

December 17, 2011

Kickoff: 2:30 pm

Location: Columbia, South Carolina

Weather: 62 degrees, clear, 4 mph wind

EA Sports Ratings:        South Carolina, Overall: A, Offense: A, Defense: B+

                                        Texas, Overall: B+, Offense: B+, Defense: B+

The strength of both these two teams is on the defensive side of the ball.  If how they played in the regular in reality comes through here, we should have a much more defensive game than in Game 1.  Texas starts Soph. QB Case McCoy while South Carolina continues on offense without Marcus Lattimore. 

1^st Quarter:

            -After trading punts, Texas gets on the board first with a 39 FG from Justin Tucker   (3-0 Texas)

            -South Carolina scores next with a 4 yard TD run from Kenny Miles                            (7-3 S. Carolina)

            -Texas forces a Connor Shaw fumble and scores on a 17 yard TD pass from

             Case McCoy to Cody Johnson                                                                                       (10-7 Texas)

2^nd Quarter:

            -South Carolina mounts a drive in immediately in the 2^nd qtr resulting in a

             6 yard TD pass from Connor Shaw to Kenny Miles                                             (14-10 S. Carolina)

            -Midway through the quarter South Carolina turns a Cody Johnson fumble in a

             4 yard TD pass from Connor Shaw to Ace Sanders                                            (21-10 S. Carolina)

3^rd Quarter:

            -South Carolina starts the scoring in the 3^rd qtr with a 15 yard half back pass

             for a TD from Kenny Miles to Justice Cunningham                                             (28-10 S. Carolina)

            -Both defenses dig in but Texas scores the last points of the 3^rd qtr with a

             Cody Johnson 2 yard TD run                                                                                (28-17 S. Carolina)

4^th Quarter:

            -Defense controls the 4^th quarter as both offenses struggle, South Carolina

             scores the final points with a 6 yard TD pass from Connor Shaw to Matt Coffee  (35-17 S. Carolina)

Texas Stats

Passing:           Case McCoy, 18/34, 293 yards, 1 TD

Rushing:           Cody Johnson, 25 att, 75 yards, 1 TD

Receiving:        Marquis Goodwin, 6 rec, 101 yards

                          Mike Davis, 4 rec, 88 yards

Defense:           1 sack, 1 Fumble recovery

Total Offense:   388 yards

Passing:            293 yards

Rushing:              95 yards

South Carolina Stats

Passing:           Connor Shaw, 24/41, 247 yards, 3 TD

Rushing:           Kenny Miles, 26 att, 123 yards, 1 TD

Receiving:        Alshon Jeffery, 8 rec, 76 yards

                         DL Moore, 4 rec, 64 yards

Defense:          4 sacks, 1 Fumble recovery

Total Offense:   415 yards

Passing:            263 yards

Rushing:            152 yards

Box Score

           

                                    1Q        2Q        3Q        4Q        T

Texas                           10          0          7          0        17

South Carolina              7         14          7          7        35

Next Game:  #22 Penn St at #11 Virginia Tech

I will post a new game every weekday before noon.