The Cock-A-Booster's CRYSTAL BALL says...

DATE: Games for the week of September 7, 2013
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Florida at Miami

Will Muschamp and his Citrus Lizards leave the I-75 bog on Saturday, hoping to calm some Dade County Typhoons to the South.  The tropical storms plan to inflict some heavy damage on the crocodiles, and if they don’t bring their sharpest chomp they’ll end up skinned. 

The Cock-A-Booster Crystal Ball says... Miami by 4

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Arkansas State at Auburn 

Gus Malzhan and his Jordan-Hare Kittens open up the Opelika scratching post again on Saturday, and some Jonesboro Howlers will be attacking from the Ozarks to the West.  The War Eagle claws have been resharpened this fall, and the Toomers Corner Cats are hissing loudly.  They should get past the Natural State Coyotes without too much trouble.          

The Cock-A-Booster Crystal Ball says... Auburn by 10

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Western Kentucky at Tennessee

Old Smokey will open up the Knoxville Militia Headquarters this weekend, and they’ll have the muskets ready to fire.  They better have good aim, as Bobby Petrino and his Bowling Green Mountain Folk have some guns of their own.  Big Red came out this fall with a chip on its shoulder and so far it has paid off in a big way.   

The Cock-A-Booster Crystal Ball says... Tennessee by 6 

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S. C. State at Clemson

Buddy Pough and his Antley’s BBQ Barkers leave the Orangeburg Kennels on Saturday, hoping to corrall some upstate felines for a pigskin snack.  The over-hyped orangeheads smoked and mirrored their way through a much tougher group of K9s last week, so they’ll get through this one with no trouble. 

The Cock-A-Booster Crystal Ball says... Clemson by 42

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South Carolina at Georgia

Mark Richt and his Pigskin Pedigrees open up the Athens Alpo Hut on Saturday, hoping to put some Richland County Roosters in the food dish.  Steve Spurrier loves neutering the Peach State Puppies, and he’ll have the Garnet Cluckers ready to fly.  The home howlers are backed into a corner, and may survive on that alone.   

The Cock-A-Booster Crystal Ball says... Georgia by 2

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In other games...The CRYSTAL BALL says go with...

Missouri, Kentucky,  Miss. State, Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A & M, and Vandy. 

CLAWS vs. PAWS - Week 2

 

Weekend of September 7, 2013

THE COCK-A-BOOSTER PICK:

Clemson is so easy to read and predict.  You can see their big wins and big losses coming a mile away.  So it was an easy choice last week to take them beating the Athens Dawgies.  The Cockabooster had it 38-27 and if Georgia doesn’t get a mop-up TD against the prevent that was on the money.

So how about this week with such a big betting line?  S. C. State is not going up there to win obviously, but I doubt they (or Clemson) wants them to be just humiliated.  The Tigers will probably work on some new wrinkles and treat this contest as a glorified practice. 

So outside of the band at halftime there won’t be that much excitement and I don’t think Dabo the Crazy runs up the score.  I will take the points.

Clemson 56, SC State 7

THE TIGER SWAG PICK:

Clemson is the talk of the nation following their win over Georgia last week.  They are ranked #4, Boyd tops many of the Heisman polls, and the bandwagon is getting heavy.

This week, Clemson will look to continue that momentum as they welcome SC State and their band into the Valley.  Boyd, Watkins & Co. will look to have some early success, and then turn things over to the youngsters.  Meanwhile, the defense will be looking for marked improvement and more consistency.

In the end, Clemson gets everything it wants: offensive momentum, defensive consistency, and a roster full of snaps.  One thing they won't get is a win against the spread.  This number is just too big for a team with holes on defense, and looking to gain experience on offense.  I think Clemson will crack the 50 point mark, but SC State will score a touchdown or two to keep them within the 52 point spread.

Clemson 59, SC State 13

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THE COCK-A-BOOSTER PICK:

Dealing with Georgia this year was a no-win situation for the Gamecocks.  The Dawgs were missing key players at Clemson who now are off suspension just in time to play us.  They were clearly focused on the SEC opener instead of the non-conference trip to Tigertown.  Predictably, they bumbled and stumbled around, giving away a key touchdown and missing a critical snap on a 2nd half field goal.

None of that will happen Saturday.  Aaron Murray will “find himself” at home and we’ll get their best game.  The good news is that everyone has now written off Jadeveon Clowney so he also will bring his best effort.  The bad news is that Connor Shaw on the road looks a lot like Aaron Murray on the road.  I would imagine that Mark Richt is smart enough to realize that.

Jawja will force Connor Shaw to step up and lead us to a win.  I hope he does, but until it happens I can’t confidently predict it.

Georgia 28, South Carolina 26

THE TIGER SWAG PICK:

Just three games ago, Georgia was one play away from playing for a National Championship.  Last week, Georgia played a pseudo National Championship elimination against Clemson to the backdrop of Gameday, ABC, and the most beautiful campus in America.  Unfortunately, they lost both of those games.

This week, reality sets in.  They will not win the National Championship, their players are mysteriously injured after first downs, their psyche is low, and their fans are in tears (literally).  To add insult to injury, they must welcome USC, their fans, and their hated coach to town.

And no one knows the playing against Georgia than one Stephen Orr Spurrier.  He has coached against Georgia 15 times with 11 wins, including the last 3.  Georgia will play better than they did against Clemson, but unfortunately, the result will be the same - they lose, Mark Richt's seat gets hotter, and more grown shed tears on sports radio.

And as I like to say when Georgia & South Carolina play: "To the Victors go the Jorts!"

 

Carolina South 27, Georgia 24

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READ MORE FROM THE COCK-A-BOOSTER HERE.

READ MORE FROM THE TIGER SWAG HERE.

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Claws vs. Paws - Scoreboard Update after WEEK 1:

RESULTS AFTER WEEK 1

The Cock-A-Booster jumps out to a slim 15-10 lead after Week 1 of Claws vs. Paws.  He was able to get 12 points from picking the correct winner vs. the spread in the Clemson/Georgia game.  He also picked up 2 points due to a complete shank by the TigerSwag who picked Georgia to Cover (although I am sure TigerSwag is not too upset about missing this particular pick!).  In the USC/UNC game, the Tigerswag recieved 10 points by picking the winner vs. the spread.  The Cock-A-Booster only received 3 points for picking the winner but missing the spread.  The scoreboard reflects the total points earned after week one - CLAWS 15, PAWS 10 !!

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO...let's look ahead to our WEEK 2 GAMES:

 (as of 9:30 am - Sept 3 - Vegas Sports Book) 

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/matchups/

    USC @ UGA - Georgia is favored by 3 points

SC STATE @ CLEMSON - Clemson is favored by 52 points

THE CRANKSHAFT GAZETTE -- It’s official: Only 10 things on Earth smell worse than a Georgia Bulldog

The National Association of Principle Olfactory Odor Trackers (POOT) has released a list of the only smells on the planet that are worse than a Georgia Bulldog:

10.          Skunk spray

9.            Decaying fish

8.            Hot Vomit

7.            Pig Poop

6.            Stagnant Pond Water

5.            Compost

4.            Body odor at the Esso Club

3.            Curdled Milk

2.            REM’s latest record

1.            The Clemson Student Section

Authorities indicate that if you come in contact with any of the above items, you seek medical assistance immediately. 

Connor’s Chance

As predicted, Georgia went up to Clemson with little to play for, fumbled and bumbled around giving away a touchdown and missing a field goal.  Clemson took advantage and played a flawless game.  They had their entire world invested into winning that game and they did.  Now, since our upstate neighbors only play 2 or 3 real games per year, they get to pull their orange car flags, jerseys/road trash pick-up shirts, and spittoons out of the closets and go nuts.  They will likely be unbeaten when they come to Columbia.   

Meanwhile, Jawja gets most of their suspended thugs back on the roster  and they actually have incentive when the Gamecocks come to town.  The flea-covered leg-humpers will be shaking their drooling jowls with zesto and barking up a storm between the hedges.  And I can promise you that Mark Richt’s game plan will be to force Connor Shaw to lead us to victory.  Just as Clemson dared Aaron Murray to beat them and he couldn’t, we will see if #14 can finally land a signature road win.  

Shaw is 18-3 as a starter, but he is 11-0 in Columbia and 3-0 in neutral stadiums.  He is only 4-3 in true road games.  His four wins are:  Vanderbilt (17-13), Mississippi State (14-10), Tennessee (14-3) and Kentucky (38-17).  With all due respect, none of those games were in a hostile atmosphere against a good team, and none of the performances were memorable.     

To me, the three losses (Arkansas, LSU and Florida) loom larger in the brain this week as we go to the Alpo dish.  Winning a big road game is the “final fig leaf” for Shaw.  If he can do it, I think you could make a very strong argument for him as the best quarterback we have ever seen in Columbia.  I mean that.  That sentiment will likely ruffle up the Jeff Grantz lovers and Steve Taneyhill-ites but it’s the truth.  

Am I saying that he isn’t “one of the best” already?  Of course he is.  But to be the best ever, in my humble opinion, he must either win a big road game or land a division title.  Yes, yes, I know we could lose on Saturday and still win the division.  And based on Georgia’s play at Clemson that is possible.  

But really this week is Connor’s chance.  I know that Shaw shuns the spotlight and prefers being the quiet leader like Phil Petty was.  I respect that.  But even Petty understood when he had to step up and put the team on his shoulders.  Shaw’s shoulders will be tested on Saturday.  Oh, the Clowney debate will dominate the headlines and suck up most of the media discussion.  But ignore all of that and keep your eye on #14.  Will he leave Carolina with a huge hole in his legacy, or will we seriously start thinking of him as our best quarterback ever?  

It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!

The worst 17-point win ever?

Listening to some Gamecock fans following the game, you would think that Carolina lost the game 10-27.  Have we really gotten to the point where USC is favored by 12, wins by 17 and we’re unhappy?  Give me a break.

Granted, even the negative nellies were excited about the offense.  Connor Shaw did what he always does in home games, Dylan Thompson fired up another TD, the offensive line is the best we’ve seen in years, Mike Davis looked awesome and Shaq Roland has everyone smiling. 

Meanwhile, after hearing from Clemson fans and ACC apologists for months that the Tar Heels were the greatest offense on earth (besides Clemson of course) and that when a team ran 80 plays in the August heat our defense would collapse.  Well, the goats got their 80 plays and ran their magical scheme all night.  The result?  10 points and under 300 yards.  Yawn.   Add in that our freshman kicker looks just fine and you have offense, check, defense, check and kicking, check.  

But, because Jadeveon Clowney didn’t have 54 sacks before halftime it wasn’t enough.  That is the bad thing about ESPN’s yearlong media hype of #7 into some kind of monster that eats tanker trucks and uses buildings as toothpicks.  You can’t possibly live up to that kind of billing.  That’s okay with me.  I will take the bar being raised that high on a Gamecock player if it means we get all the free national love.  Clowney will be fine now that he can settle into a normal football role.  

Now we will watch the Athens Alpos and the Pickens Kittens battle it out for the “least hygienic fan base” award on Saturday night before we meet Jawja.  I have the Klimpletons winning pretty easily, but either way we will get a rested and focused bunch of silver britches when we go between the hedges.  Just like the Tiggers have their entire identity and world invested into beating Georgia, Georgia absolutely must win over us for once.  

Even if you do think our win last night wasn’t a work of art, you have to acknowledge that this is Spurrier’s pattern in Columbia.  We have looked less than stellar out of the gate against ECU and Vandy.  Then on cue both of those seasons produced 11 wins.  

Normally I am looked out as a party-pooper when talking about Carolina, but I actually was pleased with what I saw.  Our linebackers have stared down a magical pistol ACC offense and stuffed it.  Our defensive backs were all over the ball making the Heels’ purported Joe Montana settle for dink-and-dunk stuff all night.  

So now Connor Shaw has his chance to lead us to a marquee, signature road win.  Georgia is going to make #14 beat them if we’re going to win.   If he does, the sky is the limit on 2013.  Go get ‘em Connor. 

It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!

CLAWS vs. PAWS - Week 1

WE KICK OFF A NEW SEASON OF CLAWS VS. PAWS

Weekend of August 31, 2013

THE COCK-A-BOOSTER PICK:

Clemson has followed a pretty predictable pattern in the last few years and I see no reason that will change in 2013.  The unwarranted preseason hype in Orange-land is off the charts as usual and this opening game plays right into the formula.  Clemson got a couple of early season wins over Auburn in recent years thanks to Auburn not being very good and that set the hype-o-meter a blazing.  Both of those years ended for the Tiggers with embarrassing losses to the Gamecocks. 

Georgia has a bunch of suspended players and their attention is largely on the visit from Carolina to Athens next week.   Clemson on the other hand has their entire identity and program invested into winning this game.  It is an absolute must-win game and it is in the Pickens County Cat House.  Too many intangibles breaking Clemson’s way so you have to go with the home team in this one. 

I will take Clemson to win and cover the spread...

Clemson 38, Georgia 27

THE TIGER SWAG PICK: 

Let's be honest, Clemson has not had the best success against Mark Richt.  During his tenure at FSU, he and Weinke pulled off the greatest play-action pass ever executed, followed by his UGA team dismantling Tommy Bowden at the Valley in what many have deemed the hottest, worst home game ever.

But those games were with TB at the helm.  Now he has as much influence over this game as I do.  But will it matter?  Will Dabo do better?  Can Clemson score enough to win, or stop Georgia when it counts?

Both Clemson and Georgia enter this game fired up, and it would not surprise me to see penalty flags fly before the game starts.  Look for Clemson to strike first, and for the crowd to stay energized.  However, the Georgia offense takes a page from Spurrier's playbook and pounds the Clemson defense with Gurley and Marshall.  Georgia draws even.  Clemson answers, and both teams trade scores, with Georgia holding a slim lead at the half.  Coming out of the half, Georgia extends their lead with a TD, and then stretches it to 2 scores with a field goal.  Clemson responds, but is unable to fully close the gap.  Clemson has one final opportunity, but they can't finish the drive.  Georgia takes over, kills the clock, and leaves Death Valley with a 4 point win. 

I will take Georgia to win and cover the spread...
Georgia 31, Clemson 27

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THE COCK-A-BOOSTER PICK:

North Carolina comes into Columbia loose and confident and with nothing to lose.  Carolina on the other hand has been hyped up to the brim with our highest preseason ranking ever.  So yes, of course the visiting goats will come out and play well.  Shocking.  Meanwhile the Gamecocks will likely come out of the gates a little rusty as we did at Vanderbilt last year. 

What it will mean is a bunch of squirming fannies in the bleachers early at Williams-Brice.  The good news is that it won’t mean an upset loss, just a sluggish win.  Connor Shaw doesn’t lose games he starts in Columbia and Thursday won’t change that.

The Gamecocks will survive a tough test and get ready for the trip to Athens.  North Carolina’s wine-and-cheese crowd will head back to Chapel Hill the losers that gave it a good effort.  Everyone wins. 

I will take to USC to win but not cover the spread...

South Carolina 20, UNC 13

THE TIGER SWAG PICK: 

"Watching UNC & USC in the "Battle of the "Carolinas" is a lot like politics: Bunch of people you can't stand claiming to represent you." - The TigerSwag

As Thursday afternoon rolls around, the nation's eyes will turn their gaze upon Columbia, South Carolina to welcome back college football.  We'll get goosebumps as we're reminded of college football's pageantry, traditions, and fandom.  Pom poms will wave, Neil Laurie will bust Cocky out of jail, and Northwestern High, I mean Miami, FL, I mean Rick Flair, I mean Elvis, I mean USC will enter W-B.  The cameras will pan the crowd and we'll see nearly 80,000 tank tops, jorts, and mullets.  ESPN and Jesse Palmer will go crazy, and the rest of the country will be reminded of why we hate the SEC.

And then UNC will enter the stadium and Clemson fans will be reminded of why we hate all things North Carolina.  This will cause us to take a deep breath, ask God for forgiveness, and silently proclaim: "Go Heels".

During the actual game, both teams come out sloppy, and the game turns into a defensive struggle, giving Pollack ample time to compare his career to Clowney's.  The stalemate is eventually broken as USC returns a punt for a TD.  Later, USC punches the ball in the endzone just before the half to go up two scores.  USC maintains the double digit cushion through most of the 2nd half until UNC finally scores to cut the lead to single digits.  UNC gets a needed defensive stop and the ball back with a chance to tie; however, Clowney summons the spirit of Medusa on Renner, who turns to stone out of fear.  USC turns that turnover into 6, and the final score. 

I will take USC to win and cover the spread...

Carolina South 23, Carolina North 10

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READ MORE FROM THE COCK-A-BOOSTER HERE.

READ MORE FROM THE TIGER SWAG HERE.

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COMING LATER THIS WEEK: Claws VS. Paws!

The Cock-A-Booster and The Tiger Swag are joining forces again this season in a fun little battle called CLAWS vs. PAWS.  We will garner their prediction powers and expert game analysis and post their weekly game choices for the USC and CLEMSON games on both blogs.  As the season progresses we will keep a prediction scoreboard and see who comes out on top after the bowl games are complete.

Here is how the scoring will work...

The Cock-A-Booster and The Tiger Swag will each predict both the USC and the Clemson games for the upcoming weekend.  They will pick an outright winner of the games and then pick against the spread.

Each time they pick a winner vs. the spread they get a TOUCHDOWN (7 pts).  If they just pick the winner but miss the spread they only get a FIELD GOAL (3 pts.).  If they miss the pick all together the other team gets a SAFETY (2 points).

So, stay tuned for the first week of CLAWS vs. PAWS...

THIS WEEK'S SPREADS:

SOUTH CAROLINA is favored by 12.5 over NORTH CAROLINA
GEORGIA is favored by 2 over CLEMSON


LAST YEAR'S WINNER - PAWS!

The Cock-A-Booster's CRYSTAL BALL says...

DATE: Games for the week of August 31, 2013
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Rice at Texas A & M

The College Station Lone Stars open up the Cowboy Ranches on Saturday, hoping to throw some Houston Hooters on the grill for supper.  The Wise Old Purple Ones hope to catch the home gauchos napping, but the 12th man will have the lassos out in force.
The CRYSTAL BALL says... Texas A & M by 20

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Miss. State at Oklahoma State

The Stillwater Cattle Farms will be o

pen for business this weekend, as the Orange Boots hope to kick down some visiting K9s from Magnolia Country.  The road puppies will bring some strong jowls with them, and they plan to leave with some leather chaps in tow.  They may run into a Gridiron branding instead.      

The CRYSTAL BALL says... Oklahoma State by 13

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Washington State at Auburn

The Plains Kittens will open up the Opelika scratching post this weekend, hoping to make 2012 a distant memory.  Gus Malzhan has renewed the energy and hope at Jordan-Hare, and it will show in the early contests.  Some freshly clawed Cougar would hit the spot of every War Eagle appetite. 

The CRYSTAL BALL says... Auburn by 15

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Alabama at Virginia Tech

Nick Saban and his elegant elephants are looking for three in a row, and that trampling will have to begin with some castrated gobblers from Blacksburg.  The travelling turkeys are hoping to represent the ACC well, and just by getting out of their cages safely they will do so.  The Tide will roll after some early poultry stands. 

The CRYSTAL BALL says... Alabama by 19

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Georgia  at Clemson

The little coach in a sweatshirt will stop his insane rantings for a few hours on Saturday, hoping the visitors from the Peach State have enough suspended to steal  a win.  The Athens Alpos are sound asleep headed into this one, and are completely focused on the visit from the Old Ball Coach next week.  The stars have aligned in this one too nicely.  The purple kittens will meow loudly.

The CRYSTAL BALL says... Clemson by 11

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North Carolina at South Carolina

The baby blue billy goats from fake BBQ country herd into Columbia on Thursday, hoping to headbutt Steve Spurrier’s roosters early and often.  The road rams have nothing to lose and will make this one very uncomfortable, but the Garnet Gaggle at the Bluff Road Poultry Plant will leave with their feathers largely unrustled. 

The CRYSTAL BALL says... South Carolina by 7

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In other games...The CRYSTAL BALL says go with...

 Florida, Vanderbilt (over Ole Miss), Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, and Missouri.  

Time to dust off the old Crystal Ball!

It is that time of year…finally!  The Gamecocks kick off the season on Thursday night against the Tar Heels and it is about time.  So in the spirit of the new football season, here are my predictions for how we will do in 2013.  Last year I predicted us to go 9-3 so I was one game off.  (Please note I will also be doing the weekly Claws and Paws picks with my buddy Willy Powell over at The Tiger Swag). 

USC fans roll into this season even more confident and hyped up than in 2012 if that’s possible.  There are many good reasons for us to feel that way.  Frankly, we only have a couple of question marks as I have written about over the summer:  1. New linebackers across the board?; 2. Will we have enough depth in the secondary?;  3. Can Connor Shaw land a signature road win in the SEC as a starter?  I suppose if you wanted to just absolutely be completely negative you could also bring up others, but in reality those are our weaknesses.

I am far from the “negative nelly” I used to be as a Gamecock fan, but I still see things realistically.  As I did last year, I see this year’s team as better and improved from 2012.  And unlike previous years, I think our schedule is actually fair.  It is difficult as always of course, but fair.  So let’s break down the 12 contests this way:

Probable wins:   UNC, @ C. Fla., Vandy, Kentucky, @ Tenn., Miss. State, Coastal Carolina.

Probable loss:    @ Georgia

Land Mines:       @ Arkansas, @ Mizzou, Florida, Clemson

Similar to last year, the season will come down to how we handle 1/3 of the slate.  We went 3-1 in those games (@ Florida, Arkansas, Mizzou and @ Clemson) and ended up 10-2.  I think we’ll match that this fall and go 10-2 again.  I see us adding wins against Florida, Mizzou and Clemson while stubbing our toe in Fayetteville. 

You know there are actually some USC fans that would consider that a disappointment.  God bless ‘em.  I have lived through 1-21 and several decades of bad football in my day.  No, I am nowhere close to being “unhappy” with a 10-2 mark.  I’ll leave that to my son’s generation.  After all, we only have five seniors on this year’s roster.  Six if you count Clowney which you certainly should.  Things are going to be just fine in Columbia for years to come.  I will choose to enjoy the ride instead of enduring it. 

10 wins, 2 losses and maybe a division title depending on what happens in Athens.  I am good with that. 

It’s a great time to be a Gamecock!