Numbers add up to USC having toughest schedule in college football
Between now and the season-opener against North Carolina on Sept. 3, we will ask 50 people: “What do you think about the Gamecocks in 2015?” We’re counting down the days until kickoff. Today’s panelist is Dave Bartoo, founder of CFBMatrix.com:
“The Gamecocks feel like they are in a no-man’s land for 2015 with a wide variance of expected results. They have middle of the road talent levels, in the SEC and are coming off an unexpected and disappointing 2014 campaign. Over 80 percent of all Power 5 teams are +/- two games away from the previous year's result, so going better than 8-4 is going to be outside the norm. They have, in my numbers, the toughest schedule in college football (No. 8 at home and No. 9 on the road) and an EOS (ease of schedule) rank of No. 32. Those are very hard numbers to get into the top 25 with considering over half of the top-10teams with my SOS rankings make a bowl. In spite of being the 16th best recruiter after attrition over the last five years, the Gamecocks are coming off bad defensive metrics in 2014. Ninety-sixth in points per play, 109th in yards per play, 106th in three-and-outs forced and 109th in drives ending in punts. Three straight years of declining defensive stats needs to change in 2015 or this team is going to be happy with a bowl bid, any bowl bid.”
This story was originally published August 22, 2015 at 10:51 PM.