Outback Bowl Betting Predictions – The Ol’ Ball Coach Gets Bowl Win
South Carolina Gamecocks (10) vs Michigan Wolverines (18) – Tuesday January 1, 2013 1:00PM EST
Steve Spurrier, the Ol’ Ball Coach, has been all over the football landscape throughout his career. He has learned important lessons, even as he gets older. One lesson that Steve Spurrier learned a long time ago is that he is not an NFL football coach. The football betting world contends that Spurrier has the talent and ability to coach in the NFL, he just lacks the desire. Some guys coach to win football games. Those are the guys that do well in the NFL. Then there are guys who feel that the molding of boys into respectable young men is just as important as winning. That is where Steve Spurrier is most comfortable, and he is very good at molding and coaching.
The sports betting world watched as the Michigan Wolverines did not get off to a great start to the 2012 season. First of all, Michigan had to face Alabama in its first game of the season, which just didn’t seem fair from the very start. When the game was over and the Wolverines had lost 41-14, it seemed like the precursor to a very long season. Michigan managed to rebound and finish the season at 8-4, but the Wolverines never really showed that it can handle the big games this season.
Why South Carolina Will Win
It is not enough to say that the Gamecocks will win this game simply because they are coached by Steve Spurrier. The Ol’ Ball Coach does not play the game, which means he needs players to get the job done. The online sports book experts note that the Gamecocks have a very good defense, which is one of the reasons why the Gamecocks were able to finish as a top 10 team. On offense, South Carolina can get the job done on the ground, but it is much more efficient through the air. It is this air attack that Michigan will have to deal with in the Outback Bowl.
Why Michigan Will Win
The glory days of the Michigan Wolverines are not so far gone that some of the fans don’t remember the powerful running games that the team used to be noted for. These days, it seems as though defense has taken over as the hallmark of the Michigan game. The Wolverines can still run the ball and score points on the ground, but it will be the Michigan defense that makes the biggest difference in this game.
The Bottom Line
The Wolverines may be able to keep this game close for a while, but the Gamecocks will eventually start to pull away towards the end. By the time this one is over, the Ol’ Ball Coach will have another bowl win under his belt and his eyes focused on the BCS Championship next season.
Pick: South Carolina
