re: early lines for sec bowl games..only 2 not favored....

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Oh, no doubt and there was no shame in losing to your Dawgs at full strength. But it was still a disappointing loss for the SCAR program ... even if SCAR was/is the youngest NCAA D1 football team in America with only four scholarship players on the roster.

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Agreed. UGA at that point was a fine offense, no doubt. And that offense wreaked havoc on USC's young linebackers and new d-line schemes; that's why you saw the linebackers coach and the d-line coach get into it on the sidelines. Too much new blood/strategy. Shaw's fumble, Bruce's sun-blindness, and the inability to punch it in on 4th and goal from the one likely cost USC the game. Happens. But for a young team to be essentially three plays away from knocking off a very good UGA team at home is certainly nothing to be ashamed of. However, I'd like to think USC is past the point of moral victories now (which is why it's a good thing people are pissed that we weren't in Atlanta/New Orleans this year).

South Carolina had a lot of growing up to do this season, and I think they handled it really as well as could reasonably be expected. They had a huge hiccup in Knoxville, but they rebounded well down the stretch and posted some big wins against Mizzou and Clemson. I think it bodes well for them going into next season, IF they can really fortify and put Wisconsin away.

I like that Carolina are underdogs. Doesn't let them get a big head.