Florida State Seminoles vs South Carolina Gamecocks
Friday, 12/31/10, 7:30 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: South Carolina -3
Current Betting Line: South Carolina -3
Opening Total: 54
Current Total: 54.5
Florida State is playing for its first 10-win season since 2003 in tonight’s Chick-Fil-A-Bowl inside the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. “I like the direction we’re going,” said coach Jimbo Fisher. “I told our players, I thanked them for the work they did and setting a standard of how to do things, how to prepare and how to practice.” The program is 23-14-2 all-time in bowl games and its postseason dominance was headlined by a 14-year unbeaten streak that began in 1982. This is the Seminoles’ 29th consecutive year playing in a bowl game, the longest streak in the nation. Florida State is 6-2 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 and is currently a field goal underdog on the college football lines page.
The Seminoles have won six straight in the series against the Gamecocks and will need a bounce back performance from their running game to pull off the slight upset today. Florida State rushed for just 53 yards against Virginia Tech in the ACC title game, after coming into the contest fourth in the ACC in yards gained on the ground with 177.7 per contest. The offense is capable of lighting up the scoreboard regardless of which quarterback is under center, as E.J. Manuel and Christian Ponder give Fisher a dangerous one-two punch at the position. Manuel passed for 288 yards and a touchdown against the Hokies, as Ponder was unable to start due to an elbow injury.
South Carolina captured the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division, but was unable to knock off the Auburn Tigers in the title game and land here to face a talented Florida State squad. “We had a good year,” said coach Steve Spurrier. “It wasn’t a super year that we had all hoped for as Gamecocks. But it’s a very good year. If we win a bowl game, we win 10 games and tie the school record. That’s what we’ll try to do.” The Gamecocks haven’t met the Seminoles since 1991, when dropping a 38-10 matchup and they’ve lost six straight in the series. The program has played only one bowl game in Atlanta and will be playing its second-straight game inside the Georgia Dome tonight. South Carolina is 19-17 ATS over the past three years.
The Gamecocks were once in the Atlantic Coast Conference and have compiled a 194-240-22 all-time mark against their former league rivals. South Carolina should have some confidence in knowing that Spurrier is 5-8-1 all-time against Florida State, which is better than the school’s 3-15 mark in the series overall. He also owns a 7-9 record in his 16 bowl games, but is just 1-3 while overseeing the South Carolina program. It’s important to note that the squad started fast this season and outscored opponents 259-138 in the first half this season.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Seminoles are 5-0-1 ATS in bowl games, while the Gamecocks are 5-0 ATS after a SU loss.
The college football handicappers at Maddux Sports are rolling along and can’t wait for you to join them for the best bowl games ahead. Don’t miss out and get in the action today!
