Auburn vs. South Carolina: Breaking Down the SEC Championship Game
In college football's premier conference, the first Saturday of December usually has a berth in the BCS title game at stake for the winner of the SEC championship game. This year is no different, but the participants weren't necessarily expected to be playing for the SEC crown.
A spot in this game is usually reserved for the likes of Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators, or Nick Saban and the defending champion Alabama Crimson Tide, or even Les Miles and the LSU Tigers.
Florida had it's early issues replacing Tim Tebow. Alabama found it difficult to run the table in the regular season for a third straight season. LSU tried to hang in until the very end, but things didn't play out the way the Tigers needed.
Up to the plate stepped Gene Chizik's Auburn Tigers and Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks. While they aren't the household names everyone expects to see, this has the chance to be a very entertaining title game.
Let's take a look at how the two teams match up.
Quarterback
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The NCAA has ruled Auburn star Cam newton eligible for this one, so this is a no-brainer. South Carolina's Stephen Garcia is talented, but he doesn't compare to possibly the game's best player right now. If Garcia can stay away from the mistake, he can win this game. However, the Tigers have the big edge here. My only concern is that Newton has seemingly had to carry Auburn on his back.
Eight of Auburn's wins this season have been comeback wins and in four of those the Tigers were down double digits. Eventually Newton won't be able to bring them back. That wears on a team. If Auburn falls behind double digits in this one, the Tigers won't be playing for a national championship.
Edge: Auburn
Running Game
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While South Carolina freshman Marcus Lattimore has had a fantastic rookie campaign, eclipsing the 1,100 yard mark, Auburn can hurt you in multiple ways. Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb have combined for 1,500 yards. Don't forget about Newton as well, who eclipsed the 1,300 yard mark.
If I were just purely looking at the running backs, I may give the slight edge to Lattimore, but the Auburn ground game can be lethal. It's close to impossible to stop. There is just too much talent in the Auburn backfield and Newton's legs give Auburn the edge.
Edge: Auburn
Passing Game
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Newton can do it with his arm as well, also eclipsing the 2,000 yard mark in the air. He will spread the ball around. The talent on the outside isn't necessarily great, but they make plays, most notably Terrell Zachary and Darvin Adams, who each caught more than 35 passes on the season.
South Carolina clearly has the best weapon in Alshon Jeffery, who is a legitimate big-play guy, hauling in over 75 passes for over 1,350 yards. Garcia is no slouch and he is capable of winning the game in the air if he has to, though that shouldn't necessarily be the game plan.
The presence of Jeffery gives the Gamecocks a slight edge here.
Edge: South Carolina
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Defenses
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Statistically, South Carolina has the edge in both points allowed per game and yards allowed per game. Neither team gets to the quarterback enough to separate either team. The turnover battle is close to even, but the difference is South Carolina has the knack of getting into the end zone on the defensive side of the ball, scoring five touchdowns on interception returns, to none for the Tigers.
Overall, the Gamecocks have the better all-around unit and if they get a lead, Spurrier will attempt to lean on his defense and put the game in its hands.
Easier said then done though.
Edge: South Carolina
Special Teams
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If the game comes down to the special teams, which it very well could, the Gamecocks have a huge edge when it comes to the punt game, averaging nearly 10 yards more net per punt. Then again, Auburn avoids that by giving Newton the ball and having him produce touchdowns. Field position is always a factor though, so it's worth noting.
Auburn has the edge in the return game with Demond Washington, who averaged nearly 26 yards per kickoff return and took one to the house.
The kicking game is about even as both kickers connect on about a 75 percent rate.
Edge: Even
Coaching
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The experience edge goes to Spurrier. He's been there before and will have something up his sleeve for this one. It could end up that one of his trick plays make the difference. Gimmicks or no gimmicks, though, you don't necessarily want to face Spurrier in a one-game situation.
On the other hand, Chizik doesn't have the pedigree, but he deserves some credit for having the Tigers in this position. He's already beaten Miles, Saban, and Spurrier, among others. What he lacks in big game experience, he makes up for by having the best player in the game. Great players make coaches look a lot better.
Edge: Auburn
Prediction
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A 3-0 South Carolina team ran into Auburn in Week 4 and had a lead. But in the end it was too much Newton, who ran for three scores and also threw for a pair. In that game, Spurrier benched Garcia after a couple of turnovers. Connor Shaw came in and threw a pair of picks that pretty much put the game in Auburn's hands.
Garcia won't get benched in this one. If he can get the Gamecocks a two touchdown lead in the second half, the Gamecocks are going to win this game. I just don't see it happening though.
I'm concerned about a let down for Auburn after an emotional comeback against Alabama. It would be natural to come out flat. Even if the Tigers do, it's just too much Cam Newton. To beat Auburn, some team is going to have to contain him and it won't happen this week.
South Carolina hangs in for three quarters but Newton pulls Auburn ahead in the fourth quarter sending the Tigers to the BCS title game.
Auburn 34 South Carolina 20.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
