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Noon ET - Raymond James Stadium (65,890) - ESPN 2

Television: ESPN2 / WatchESPN.com - Adam Amin, Dusty Dvoracek, Molly McGrath

Radio: Gamecock IMG Sports Network - Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs, Langston Moore (Radio affiliates)

** This will mark the fourth meeting between Carolina and Michigan and the second between the two squads in the Outback Bowl. The Gamecocks were 33-28 winners on January 1, 2013 in one of the most memorable bowl games in recent history, one that gave us “The Hit,” by Carolina All-American Jadeveon Clowney. The teams also split two contests in the 1980s, with the Gamecocks posting a 17-14 win in Ann Arbor in 1980, and Michigan winning by a 34-3 count in Columbia in 1985.

** The Gamecocks are bowl-eligible for the 13th time in the last 14 years. They elected not to participate in a bowl game following a 6-5 season in 2004, did not receive a bowl bid following a 6-6 campaign in 2007, and did not qualify for a bowl following a 3-9 season in 2015. The Gamecocks are 5-5 in the 10 bowl games played in that stretch, including wins in four of their last five bowl appearances.

** Carolina will be making its fifth trip to the Outback Bowl. The Gamecocks are 3-1 in the Outback Bowl with back-to-back wins over Ohio State in 2001 (24-7) and 2002 (31-28), and a 31-10 loss to Iowa in 2009, before posting a 33-28 win over Michigan in 2013.

** The 2018 Outback Bowl marks Carolina’s 22nd bowl appearance. The Gamecocks are 8-13 all-time in bowl games. They dropped their first eight bowl games, won three straight, lost four of the next five but now have won four of their last five bowl appearances.

** The Gamecocks have won eight games this season. It marks the 14th time in school history that Carolina has won eight or more games in a season, eight of which have come in this century. The Gamecocks will be looking for their ninth victory of the season in the Outback Bowl, something that has been done just six times previously.

11 wins - 3 times (2011, 2012, 2013)

10 wins - 1 time (1984)

9 wins - 2 times (2001, 2010)

8 wins - 8 times (1903, 1979, 1980, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2006, 2017)

** South Carolina leads the SEC and is tied for 21st in the country with 23 turnovers forced (11 fumbles and 12 interceptions). The Gamecocks are plus-9 in turnover margin, second in the SEC and 17th in the country.

** The Gamecocks are allowing just 20.8 points per game this season, 26th in the country. If that number holds up, it would be their best mark since the 2012 squad allowed just 18.2 points, and would mark the fourth-straight year in which Carolina has shown improvement, going from 30.4 points per game in 2014, to 27.5 in 2015 to 26.5 last season.

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Collyn Taylor: Aside from Clemson, this will be the toughest front seven South Carolina will face all year. It’ll be important for the Gamecocks to get the ball in space and get as much as they can from the running game. Expect a slugfest with two good defenses and sluggish offenses playing each other. I think Michigan’s defense is better and will get a few more stops. Michigan 17, South Carolina 12

Wes Mitchell: As I've said all week long, the seasons these two teams have had aren't really all that different. While the schemes are different, both teams win with defense and have struggled on offense. This one will come down to who can run the football, win the turnover battle and play well in the red zone. I like the Gamecocks - South Carolina 24, Michigan 21

Michael Beckham: As has been the case most of the year, the Gamecocks will turn this into a defensive affair. They will also be facing a Michigan team that will do the same. Both teams lean on stout defenses to cover for bad offenses. Michigan’s defense is the best of the two defenses, but Michigan still hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record. I think that stands. USC 17, Michigan 16

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