Both the University of South Carolina and Clemson University’s football programs are ranked in the Top Ten of an “early preseason” poll released this week by Fox Sports. Head coach Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks – one of only four programs in the nation to put together back-to-back 11-win campaigns – are ranked No. 8, while Clemson checks in one spot behind them at No. 9.
The “official polls” won’t be released until the end of this summer, but barring any unforeseen developments expect both Palmetto State squads to stay where they are heading into the 2013 season.
The Gamecocks – who knocked off Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl – finished 2012 ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 7 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll (a spot above where they finished in 2011). Meanwhile Clemson – on the strength of its big Chick-fil-A Bowl victory over LSU – cracked the USA/Today Top 10 last year at No. 9 and finished No. 11 in the AP Top 25.
Here’s what the Fox analysts had to say about head coach Dabo Swinney’s returning squad …
With quarterback Tajh Boyd’s decision to return for another season, Clemson is a heavy favorite to win the ACC in 2013. Boyd leads an offense that averaged 40 points a game last season, and even with top receiver DeAndre Hopkins leaving for the NFL, the Tigers won’t miss a beat. Returning receiver Sammy Watkins to his freshman form is the top priority for coordinator Chad Morris, along with finding a running back to replace Andre Ellington. While the offense will be dynamic, if the Tigers want to make a run at the national championship, the defense has to get better in coordinator Brent Venables’ second year. That task for Venables won’t be easy, as Clemson loses end Malliciah Goodman and must replace three starters in the secondary.
Fortunately for the Tigers, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley (a Clemson alum) let Swinney, Venables and other Tiger coaches use her taxpayer-funded plane to land some blue chip defensive recruits …
What’s the Fox outlook for USC? Well, despite three consecutive wins over SEC East rival Georgia, USC is still playing second fiddle to the Bulldogs …
Georgia is the early favorite to win the SEC East, but South Carolina isn’t far behind. The Gamecocks have two proven quarterbacks in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson, and both should have plenty of time to throw behind an offensive line that returns four starters. Talented, but largely unproven running backs Brandon Wilds and Mike Davis will be charged with jumpstarting the rushing attack in 2013. The defense loses a handful of players – namely end Devin Taylor, safety DeVonte Holloman, linebacker Shaq Wilson – but end Jadeveon Clowney is a good place to begin the rebuilding effort.
Georgia is ranked No. 5 in the Fox poll, behind Texas A&M, Oregon, Ohio State and two-time defending national champion Alabama. The Bulldogs open their 2013 season on the road against Clemson on August 31 – a week before hosting the Gamecocks in Athens, Georgia.
So … we know where both Palmetto programs will start the 2013 season, but where will they finish? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our comments section below …
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42 comments
Today is,April 24th…
I agree, 9″.. I thought FITS got a late start on college football, too….
Whatever,Will
Yes, today is officially…..
—- NATIONAL PIGS IN A BLANKET DAY
make mine w/bratwurst and philo dough
Today is,April 24th…
I agree, 9″.. I thought FITS got a late start on college football, too….
Whatever,Will
Yes, today is officially…..
—- NATIONAL PIGS IN A BLANKET DAY
make mine w/bratwurst and philo dough
The ONLY reason Clemson is even mentioned in the same breath w/ SEC power South Carolina, is the EASY, EASY ACC Schedule. Clemson is the Epitome of Paper Tigers.
The FLUKE, Clemson Miracle win over a NFL-declaring, quitting LSU team, is an abberation at best.
And: I’ll LMAO off when Chad morris FINALLY gets that elusive HC jobs, he keeps getting oturned-down for. Clueless Dabo will Crap his pants when that happens…
Also: SC has beaten Ga. repeatedly, only to have the SEC Schedulers defeat SC w/ a murderous slate of games, that would deck any team. This year, the schedule may not be as brutal for SC…That could make a BIG, BIG difference,.
Winning the ACC, is like winning a tallest midget contest.
It’s like having the only double-wide in a park full of single-wides. Show-offs….
Is it Syracuse or Dartmouth that’s now in the ACC? I forget. I think Notre Dame may play basketball……….Or is it Richmond in the vaunted “Atlantic” division next year? The Spiders would bring an expanded TV market for the Duke, Maryland game, for instance.
The ONLY reason Clemson is even mentioned in the same breath w/ SEC power South Carolina, is the EASY, EASY ACC Schedule. Clemson is the Epitome of Paper Tigers.
The FLUKE, Clemson Miracle win over a NFL-declaring, quitting LSU team, is an abberation at best.
And: I’ll LMAO off when Chad morris FINALLY gets that elusive HC jobs, he keeps getting oturned-down for. Clueless Dabo will Crap his pants when that happens…
Also: SC has beaten Ga. repeatedly, only to have the SEC Schedulers defeat SC w/ a murderous slate of games, that would deck any team. This year, the schedule may not be as brutal for SC…That could make a BIG, BIG difference,.
Winning the ACC, is like winning a tallest midget contest.
It’s like having the only double-wide in a park full of single-wides. Show-offs….
Is it Syracuse or Dartmouth that’s now in the ACC? I forget. I think Notre Dame may play basketball……….Or is it Richmond in the vaunted “Atlantic” division next year? The Spiders would bring an expanded TV market for the Duke, Maryland game, for instance.
wondering what happened to “MMMAARON” from yesterday?
Seemed pretty accurate to me….
wondering what happened to “MMMAARON” from yesterday?
Seemed pretty accurate to me….
Here’s hoping both Clemson AND Carolina take the Bulldogs to the pound.
I HATE Ga. Their fans are meaner, almost but not as Stank-hick as Clemson’s, but Ga. fans are meaner than Tater Fans. Ga. fans are Arrogant, A-Holes….where Tater fans are just stupid and delusuonal…
But I will be Full-Bore-pro-Bulldog when they take on the Taters…You cannot hate what Clemson athletics represents, enough…
I agree, they’re even meaner than a Florida judge. Can’t wait.
Here’s hoping both Clemson AND Carolina take the Bulldogs to the pound.
I HATE Ga. Their fans are meaner, almost but not as Stank-hick as Clemson’s, but Ga. fans are meaner than Tater Fans. Ga. fans are Arrogant, A-Holes….where Tater fans are just stupid and delusuonal…
But I will be Full-Bore-pro-Bulldog when they take on the Taters…You cannot hate what Clemson athletics represents, enough…
I agree, they’re even meaner than a Florida judge. Can’t wait.
A wishful dream:
Carolina Clemson playing for the National Championship.
Never happen, but nice to think about.
Heck, even under the best of circumstances, having their rivalry game so late in the season probably kills that possibility.
A wishful dream:
Carolina Clemson playing for the National Championship.
Never happen, but nice to think about.
Heck, even under the best of circumstances, having their rivalry game so late in the season probably kills that possibility.
People Believe Something on Twitter for Some Reason
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — Federal investigators said today that they were “baffled” as to why millions of people chose to believe something they read yesterday on Twitter, a social-media site that has falsely reported the deaths of more than seventy-five thousand different celebrities.
“It’s mystifying,” said one investigator working on the case. “One theory we’re considering is that people who spend time on Twitter eventually lose their capacity for critical thinking and become sheep.”
The Syrian Electronic Army, the group of hackers who claimed responsibility for yesterday’s hoax, said that they were “flabbergasted” that it created such chaos: “Honestly, we didn’t think anyone would believe it, what with it being on Twitter and all.”
At Twitter headquarters, a company spokesman said that yesterday’s incident, which briefly caused the Dow to plunge a hundred points and temporarily wiped off a hundred thirty-six billion dollars of value from the S&P 500, was “testament to the amazing growth of Twitter.”
“In a few short years, Twitter has evolved from a mere waste of time into a force capable of massive havoc and destruction,” the Twitter spokesman said.
“We’re excited to see what Twitter does next.”
People Believe Something on Twitter for Some Reason
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — Federal investigators said today that they were “baffled” as to why millions of people chose to believe something they read yesterday on Twitter, a social-media site that has falsely reported the deaths of more than seventy-five thousand different celebrities.
“It’s mystifying,” said one investigator working on the case. “One theory we’re considering is that people who spend time on Twitter eventually lose their capacity for critical thinking and become sheep.”
The Syrian Electronic Army, the group of hackers who claimed responsibility for yesterday’s hoax, said that they were “flabbergasted” that it created such chaos: “Honestly, we didn’t think anyone would believe it, what with it being on Twitter and all.”
At Twitter headquarters, a company spokesman said that yesterday’s incident, which briefly caused the Dow to plunge a hundred points and temporarily wiped off a hundred thirty-six billion dollars of value from the S&P 500, was “testament to the amazing growth of Twitter.”
“In a few short years, Twitter has evolved from a mere waste of time into a force capable of massive havoc and destruction,” the Twitter spokesman said.
“We’re excited to see what Twitter does next.”
USC fans are the worst in my book. Arrogant for no reason and behave like jerks.
Arrogant!!!??, arrogant!?, says the imbecile who cheers for the team with a laughing stock coach, who assures the diminishing faithful a national title run every damn year. Does Dabo plan on beating Wake and the Cocks in the same year?
USC fans are the worst in my book. Arrogant for no reason and behave like jerks.
Arrogant!!!??, arrogant!?, says the imbecile who cheers for the team with a laughing stock coach, who assures the diminishing faithful a national title run every damn year. Does Dabo plan on beating Wake and the Cocks in the same year?
I’m picking Emory to win the national championship..
I’m picking Emory to win the national championship..
‘Bama and Ohio State in the final game. Clowney and Boyd at the DTAC. Outback or Chick-Fil-A bowls for SC and Orange against Texas A&M for Clemson. Book it.
‘Bama and Ohio State in the final game. Clowney and Boyd at the DTAC. Outback or Chick-Fil-A bowls for SC and Orange against Texas A&M for Clemson. Book it.
If Gamecock fans and Clemson fans were rational, which they clearly aren’t, they would pull for their in-state rival when not playing them since they’re in a different conference anyway. They tell everyone who will listen that their opponent sucks despite the fact that they will be playing them in the final game as they do every year. What you are saying is that if you win, you are just beating a crappy team and if you lose, you can’t even beat a crappy team. I’m more of a Gamecock fan but if it came down to Clemson making a run at a national title and the Gamecocks were out of it, why wouldn’t I want Clemson to win?
If Gamecock fans and Clemson fans were rational, which they clearly aren’t, they would pull for their in-state rival when not playing them since they’re in a different conference anyway. They tell everyone who will listen that their opponent sucks despite the fact that they will be playing them in the final game as they do every year. What you are saying is that if you win, you are just beating a crappy team and if you lose, you can’t even beat a crappy team. I’m more of a Gamecock fan but if it came down to Clemson making a run at a national title and the Gamecocks were out of it, why wouldn’t I want Clemson to win?