Capital One Bowl 2012: Key Matchups for South Carolina vs. Nebraska

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will play the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Capital One Bowl, and these are the matchups that will decide the game’s victor.

Both of these teams’ seasons have been somewhat of a wild roller coaster ride filled with great highs and miserable lows.

From South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore being injured to Connor Shaw’s brilliant performance against the Clemson Tigers, the Gamecocks have seen it all.

As for the Cornhuskers, well, they’ve suffered beatdowns to the Wisconsin Badgers and the Michigan Wolverines, but they’ve beaten a gritty Michigan State Spartans team and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

On a season that has served both smiles and cries, it’s only fitting that these two teams meet in the Capital One Bowl, and this is what you should keep an eye on in the game.

Taylor Martinez vs. a Collapsing Pocket

This will be the story of the game, and I believe it will be the biggest matchup throughout the game. If you haven’t seen South Carolina play this year, they have some real studs on that defensive line.

From Melvin Ingram to Travain Robertson to Devin Taylor to Jadeveon Clowney, these guys are freakishly athletic.

Rest assured that they will get pressure on Taylor Martinez, but this is where Martinez’s feet come into play.

Not only can Martinez throw the ball, but his biggest threat is his playmaking ability with his legs. Martinez will have to work some magic in a collapsing pocket.

Connor Shaw vs. Nebraska Defense

Come on, I can’t show love for one quarterback and not the other.

I would like to say that I think Connor Shaw has played excellent this year given the fact that he was thrusted into the starting position after Stephen Garcia was kicked off the team.

Like Martinez, Shaw is a dual-threat quarterback, but he’s a more accurate passer than Martinez. And just like Martinez, Shaw will have his hands full when these two teams play.

Nebraska is stout on defense, and if you take away the two blowout losses they suffered to Wisconsin and Michigan, this defense has been solid all year.

Shaw’s coming off of a performance against Clemson, where he passed for three touchdowns, rushed for a touchdown and had over 100 yards rushing.

Nebraska can’t allow Shaw to produce near that amount or they’ll be in for another long day on defense.

Alshon Jeffrey vs. Alfonzo Dennard

Alshon Jeffrey hasn’t had the junior year that nearly everyone predicted, but it’s still been a great year for the talented receiver.

Jeffrey has 45 receptions for 614 yards and seven touchdowns this year, but we all know he’s more than capable of producing numbers way beyond those.

This is one of those guys that’s going to be a a big time threat at the next level, and given all of the circumstances that South Carolina has been through this season, I can understand why his stats aren’t as gaudy as we predicted.

What’s so funny about this bowl game coming up is that Jeffrey will be going against a guy that’s pretty much in the same boat. Before the season, Alfonzo Dennard was regarded as not only one of the best cornerbacks in his conference, but as one of the best in the nation.

Unfortunately for Dennard, he missed some games due to an injury earlier this year, but he’s getting back to his old shutdown corner self.

Dennard and Jeffrey both need to have great performances in this bowl game to raise their stock for the 2012 draft even more. So who will win? I think it’s safe to say that the fans win this matchup.

Nebraska Rushing Game vs. South Carolina Defense

If it’s one thing Nebraska knows how to do, it’s run the football.

Whether it’s Martinez taking off from the pocket or Rex Burkhead gutting the defense with some swift moves, the Cornhuskers have managed to be extremely effective rushing the football.

They’re 13th in the nation when it comes to average rushing yards per game with 223.9, and there’s no secret that this is what they want to do against the Gamecocks.

With that said, South Carolina knows how to stop the run. I’ve already talked about those amazing athletes they posses on the defensive line, and they’re worth noting again.

If Nebraska can find success rushing the football against this front four and Gamecock defense, they could easily walk away with the victory on January 2.

Steve Spurrier vs. Bo Pelini

You love these coaches. I love these coaches. Heck, we all love these coaches.

Bo Pelini gets so angry on game day that fans could probably hit him square in the forehead with an egg and get that sucker cooked sunny side up. I don’t recommend trying that, though, because the man might verbally abuse you in such ways that you’ve never thought were possible.

As for the ol’ ball coach, Steve Spurrier, he’s probably the coolest guy in college football. I mean, this guy seems like he just doesn’t care at times and will say whatever is on his mind.

In a sport that has so many coaches playing politicians in interviews, that’s refreshing, and it makes thing interesting.

As for as their coaching abilities go, both coaches are outstanding, and I expect a coaching clinic when these two play. Pelini favors the defensive side of the ball, and Spurrier is an offensive wiz. I can’t wait to see both coaches’ facial expressions when they start to trade blows.