Nebraska vs. South Carolina: Last-Minute Spread Info, Line for Capital One Bowl

The Capital One Bowl has two great teams in this year’s game, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3, 5-3) take on the South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2, 6-2). 

These two teams both had excellent seasons that had both of these teams in the Top 25 polls from the start of the season all the way to the end. They will put on a great show for us behind both of their dynamic rushing attacks. 

Where: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orland, Fla.

When: Monday, January 2 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN, ESPN 3D and ESPN-3.com

Listen: South Carolina: 1250 WTMA AM, Nebraska: KFAB 1110 AM

Betting Line: According to SBG Global, the Gamecocks are a -2.5 point favorite. You should take the Cornhuskers to upset the Gamecocks in this game. They have the better rushing attack and have more talent on the offensive side of the ball.

Key Storyline

Nebraska: Can they finish their first season in the Big Ten with 10 wins?

South Carolina: Can they finish this season with 11 wins despite all of their injuries and losses to key players to their team?

Who Might Not Play for Nebraska (According to USA Today.com)

OL Mike Caputo is questionable for disciplinary reasons. 

WR Khiry Cooper is questionable with a knee injury. 

S Courtney Osborne is questionable with a shoulder injury that has kept him out of the last four games.

Who Might Not Play for South Carolina (According to USAToday.com)

CB C.C. Whitlock is questionable due to his eligibility. 

DE Jadeveon Clowney is questionable due to a concussion. 

WR Alshon Jeffery is probable with a broken bone in his hand. 

What it Means for Nebraska

A win for Nebraska would finish off what has to have been a disappointing first season in the Big Ten. Yes, with a win, they will finish with 10 wins on the season, but Nebraska fans thought their first year in the Big Ten was going to come with a BCS bowl game.

What it Means for South Carolina

A win for South Carolina would mark the end of what was a roller coaster season. Coach Steve Spurrier did a great job this year holding this team together through everything they went through to have a shot at winning 11 games this year. 

What They're Saying

Nebraska: Jeff Packer of the Daily Nebraskan caught up with Nebraska Senior Austin Cassidy to get his thoughts on this season. 

"

Austin Cassidy will do some reflecting, but the NU senior safety is happy with what his team accomplished in its regular season. He knows the fans expect an undefeated season and league titles. He and his teammates do, too.  

"We want to go undefeated and we want to win every game, but when we're older and we're reflecting back on this season, you know, nine wins – it'll be something that we can be proud of," Cassidy said.

"

South Carolina: Isabelle Khurshudyan from the Daily Gamecock gives us an update on DE Clowney: 

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Ward also added that he’s heard positive things about whether C.C. Whitlock or Jadeveon Clowney would play after having their names and images on a poster promoting an event at a club in Rock Hill, which is a potential NCAA violation. The poster has since changed and no longer has Clowney or Whitlock on it.

"

Nebraska Player to Watch: Running Back Rex Burkhead

The junior running back has been a big reason to Nebraska’s 9-3 finish this year. He has had his best stats as a Cornhusker this year, carrying the ball 261 times, gaining 1,268 yards and scoring 15 times.

Burkhead is coming into this game off of a 38-carry, 160-yard, one-touchdown game against Iowa in a 20-7 victory. 

If Nebraska is going to win their bowl game, they will have to have a huge game from Burkhead.

South Carolina Player to Watch: Wide Receiver Alshon Jeffery

The talented wide receiver may have had his worst season at South Carolina, but it wasn’t his fault. He saw his starting quarterback get replaced midway through the season, and never had a chance gel with the new starter. 

Plus, he comes into this game with a broken bone in his hand. If Jeffery does play in the Capital One Bowl, he will be a force on the field. 

In Jeffery’s last two games, he has scored twice while averaging 14-16 yards per catch. 

Key Matchup: Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez vs. South Carolina’s Defense

South Carolina had one of the better defenses in the SEC this year. They only gave up 19 points per game while holding opposing passing and rushing offenses to just 1,596 and 1,631 yards. 

Martinez had another year where he was a deadly dual-threat quarterback. He could kill an opposing defense by finding receivers downfield or by taking off on a scramble. 

It will be great to see if the Gamecock defense can contain Martinez.

Prediction

Because South Carolina gave up 136 yards per game to opposing running backs and Nebraska gained 224 yards per game, I’m going to give the advantage to the Cornhuskers. 

They will use Burkhead and Martinez a lot in this game to wear the South Carolina defense down while controlling the game clock. 

Nebraska 27-South Carolina 20

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