South Carolina Bowl Game Projections

By Tim Letcher
Joshua S. Kelly, USA TODAY SPORTS
Joshua S. Kelly, USA TODAY SPORTS

It certainly wasn’t the season they hoped to have, but the South Carolina Gamecocks will still go to a bowl in 2014.

South Carolina was a Top 10 team in the preseason rankings and big things were expected from Steve Spurrier and his team. Quarterback Dylan Thompson was supposed to step in and make a seamless transition from Connor Shaw. Thompson led the SEC in total passing yards this season, so he did his part.

The Gamecocks’ offense wasn’t awful, but the defense was, starting with a bad home loss to the Texas A&M Aggies and continuing through the season. South Carolina was 12th in the SEC in scoring defense and 13th in total defense.

Despite these troubles, the Gamecocks did manage to win six games, including three in the conference. That’s enough to get into the postseason. Now the question becomes, where will Spurrier and his team be playing?

The Birmingham Bowl appears to be the leader to get South Carolina. There, the Gamecocks would face a team from the AAC, perhaps the Memphis Tigers.

If not Birmingham, South Carolina could be going to the Duck Commander Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. An opponent from the ACC would await the Gamecocks there and the North Carolina Tar Heels could be that team.

South Carolina will also be considered for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis. The West Virginia Mountaineers from the Big 12 would be the likely opponent in that scenario.

These are not the bowls that South Carolina had hoped for at the beginning of the season, but the Gamecocks will still get to participate in postseason play.

Tim Letcher is a contributing writer for www.RantSports.com and a member of the Football Writers Association of America. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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