South Florida
5th Big East7-5
Clemson
9th ACC6-6
South Florida @ Clemson preview
Bank of America Stadium
The Skinny: The first all-time meeting between Clemson and South Florida shapes up like a defensive struggle — and not just because both teams boast solid defensive units. Both offenses have had their share of struggles as well.
Both teams capped up-and-down seasons by losing two of their last three. The Tigers (6-6) had an outside shot at making the ACC Championship until they lost 16-13 at Florida State on Nov. 13, and they closed the regular season with a 29-7 loss at rival South Carolina. The Bulls (7-5) squandered a chance to play spoiler in their regular-season finale, losing 19-16 to Connecticut to allow the Huskies to clinch their first BCS berth and a trip to the Orange Bowl.
Point Spread: Clemson -5. Over/under 40.5.
Clemson's Edge: Led by Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Da'Quan Bowers, the Tigers boast the nation's No. 9 scoring defense (17.75 points per game) and rank 23rd in the nation in total defense. The Tigers should have the advantage against South Florida's inconsistent offense — the Bulls scored 16 points or less in each of their five losses.
South Florida's Edge: Clemson's offense has been equally pedestrian, and the Bulls are tough on the run, ranking 33rd in the nation with 131.9 rushing yards allowed per game. If they can keep Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper in check and make inconsistent quarterback Kyle Parker beat them, they should be able to stay in the game.
The Quarterbacks: Clemson's Kyle Parker delayed his professional baseball career to return for his sophomore season, but things haven't gone as planned. Parker's numbers dropped off significantly from his freshman year — he has completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 2,080 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season -- and has ceded playing time to freshman Tajh Boyd in the past two games.
South Florida's dual-threat quarterback, sophomore B.J. Daniels, missed the regular-season finale against UConn with a quadriceps injury, but he is expected to play. Daniels has been inconsistent as a passer, throwing two or more interceptions in three games, and he hasn't realized his potential as a runner since gaining 107 yards against Florida in the second game of the season. But he's still a dangerous athlete who can keep the Tigers' defense guessing.
NFL Prospects: Clemson — DE Da'Quan Bowers, OL Chris Hairston, DB Marcus Gilchrist. South Florida — DT Terrell McClain, DE Craig Marshall, WR Dontavia Bogan.
Bowl history: Clemson is 16-16 all-time in bowl games. The Tigers beat Kentucky 21-13 in last year's Music City Bowl, snapping a streak of three consecutive bowl losses. Clemson has never played in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
South Florida is playing in its sixth consecutive bowl and has won the last two, beating Northern Illinois 27-3 in last year's International Bowl to improve to 3-2 in bowl games. It's the Bulls' second appearance in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. They lost 14-0 to North Carolina State in 2005.
Etc.: Three of South Florida's five losses and four of Clemson's five defeats were by seven points or less.
Both teams capped up-and-down seasons by losing two of their last three. The Tigers (6-6) had an outside shot at making the ACC Championship until they lost 16-13 at Florida State on Nov. 13, and they closed the regular season with a 29-7 loss at rival South Carolina. The Bulls (7-5) squandered a chance to play spoiler in their regular-season finale, losing 19-16 to Connecticut to allow the Huskies to clinch their first BCS berth and a trip to the Orange Bowl.
Point Spread: Clemson -5. Over/under 40.5.
Clemson's Edge: Led by Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Da'Quan Bowers, the Tigers boast the nation's No. 9 scoring defense (17.75 points per game) and rank 23rd in the nation in total defense. The Tigers should have the advantage against South Florida's inconsistent offense — the Bulls scored 16 points or less in each of their five losses.
South Florida's Edge: Clemson's offense has been equally pedestrian, and the Bulls are tough on the run, ranking 33rd in the nation with 131.9 rushing yards allowed per game. If they can keep Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper in check and make inconsistent quarterback Kyle Parker beat them, they should be able to stay in the game.
The Quarterbacks: Clemson's Kyle Parker delayed his professional baseball career to return for his sophomore season, but things haven't gone as planned. Parker's numbers dropped off significantly from his freshman year — he has completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 2,080 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season -- and has ceded playing time to freshman Tajh Boyd in the past two games.
South Florida's dual-threat quarterback, sophomore B.J. Daniels, missed the regular-season finale against UConn with a quadriceps injury, but he is expected to play. Daniels has been inconsistent as a passer, throwing two or more interceptions in three games, and he hasn't realized his potential as a runner since gaining 107 yards against Florida in the second game of the season. But he's still a dangerous athlete who can keep the Tigers' defense guessing.
NFL Prospects: Clemson — DE Da'Quan Bowers, OL Chris Hairston, DB Marcus Gilchrist. South Florida — DT Terrell McClain, DE Craig Marshall, WR Dontavia Bogan.
Bowl history: Clemson is 16-16 all-time in bowl games. The Tigers beat Kentucky 21-13 in last year's Music City Bowl, snapping a streak of three consecutive bowl losses. Clemson has never played in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
South Florida is playing in its sixth consecutive bowl and has won the last two, beating Northern Illinois 27-3 in last year's International Bowl to improve to 3-2 in bowl games. It's the Bulls' second appearance in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. They lost 14-0 to North Carolina State in 2005.
Etc.: Three of South Florida's five losses and four of Clemson's five defeats were by seven points or less.