The "Fund" Status Plus Sam's Top 10

 I wanted to start the Fund on September 28. It wasn't the right time to start it. I had a nice week that week, so applying some of the winnings from that week towards Fund status. After nice week last week, the Fund is at +.052%. Counting 1st week, record vs the spread = 2 - .5.

My current Top 10 (+1):

1)Georgia

2)Michigan

3)Ohio St (my pick to win it all)

4)Florida St

5)Oregon

6) Washington

7)Penn State

8) Oklahoma

9) USC

10) Texas

11) Alabama

Tonight: QB Grayson McCall of Coastal Carolina has been one of the best in college football the last 4 years. This year, he has a new coach, a new offensive philosophy and his numbers are not up to his past successes. His Chanticleers play an Appalachian St team with only 10 starters back from last year(CC has 14 returning starters). Despite Coastal's slow start, felt their experience at QB warranted a small investment on the visiting Chanticleers.

Friday Night Picks & More

Isn't it an unreal coincidence that on the day NFL great Dick Butkus passed away, the NFL schedule saw his Bears play Washington on Thursday Night Football. Not so fast my friend. The sad news hit the coincidence lottery one day later when one of the greatest MLBs of all time then saw his college alma mater, Illinois, featured in the Friday night FS1 game vs. Nebraska. Unreal!

Mike Gundy is one of my favorite FBS coaches. His record vs. the spread at OKST is better than a lot of head coaches' straight-up records. On the first night of the Mutual Fund, hoping it's a good omen I had the chance to invest in a Gundy pick.

Took the under in Nebraska/Illinois matchup for the Mutual Fund. Thought both defenses were relatively strong and the QB play for both teams was relatively weak. The pick started well, but, 2 quick 2nd quarter TDs have made this play a toss-up.

I do think former Temple HC Matt Rhule will turn around the Nebraska program. Will always be grateful his Owls team brought College Game Day to Philly.

More "Mutual Fund" Odds and Ends

Sam's College-Edge "Mutual Fund" officially starts Thursday, October 5th!...The deadline for signing up will be 6:00p.m. e.s.t. on the same date...The picks will be given out by texts, which will include the unit amount of each play...The weekly update of the Fund status will be given out on Tuesdays right here at college edge.blogspot.com...Again, the most you can lose is the value of your share(s). Either $50.00 if one share, $100.00 if you have 2 shares...I consider myself a conservative investor. 1-unit plays, my very best, top of the line picks, are very rare. After we've established a bankroll at 6:00p.m. on October 5th, my 1-unit plays will represent .035% of the total bankroll; 1/2-unit plays will represent .0175% of the bankroll; 1/4-unit plays will represent .0087% of the total bankroll. Occasional 1/5-unit plays, which will include most totals plays, will be a small .0044% of the total bankroll. Did I mention I'm a very conservative investor/bettor?

My goal with the College Edge Fund is to give you a lot of fun following my picks, and to give you a return on your investment when the regular season ends with the Army-Navy game, which, by the way, is my favorite college football rivalry game. I hope I'm successful on both counts. CAN'T WAIT TO GET THIS THING STARTED!

2022 Bowl Special

Sign up today for the 2022 Bowl Special. It's a great chance for you to have fun this Bowl Season and to  have a great chance to make a profit as well. Here is how it will work:
1) I will try to make a selection in every Bowl game, be it vs. the spread, or vs, Totals or both.
2) I will text you the picks for each individual Bowl game. (If you need to receive picks in another way, let me know).
3) My strongest selections will be released as 1-unit plays. e.g. if you are a $100.00 player, a 1-unit play for you would be $100.00.
4) The next unit play, which doesn't meet the strength of my 1-unit play, would be the 1/2-unit play. e.g. if you are a $100.00 player, a 1/2-unit recommendation is a $50.00 play.
5) The next unit play would be a 1/4-unit recommendation. e.g. if you are a $100.00 player, a 1/4-unit play would be for $25.00.
6) The final unit recommendation would be the 1/5-unit recommendation. Most Totals plays will fall into this category. e.g. if you are a $100.00 player, a 1/5-unit play would be for $20.00.

Here's the bottom line. Each year I have about 6-8 picks that fall into the 1-unit category. But, I have been working on all these Bowl teams all year and I will have definite opinions on almost every game, and almost every totals spreads. The variance will lie in the what unit recommendations I give out for each individual play. I can't force you to follow my recommendations, but, they are given out with careful consideration.

Here are 3 cool parts of my Bowl Challenge: I give all of you who sign up a daily update on our record vs. the spreads: I am not a hypocrite. I invest in my recommendations in the same way I give them to you; finally, I've been doing this a hell of a lot of years and I'm pretty good.

I would be grateful if you would sign up for the EdgySam Bowl Challenge. You can sign up right here on the Home page of collegeedge.blogspot.com I will work my ass off for you. Let's have some fun! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Leave message at 267-752-edge(3343), if you have any questions.

Why I Gave Out #OkSt over #Oklahoma

I gave out Oklahoma State over Oklahoma for various reasons. Cowboys have the better defense(to date)...they have what I feel is the coaching advantage - Gundy over Riley... OkSt is home...To me, QB Rudolph is Mayfield's equal, so the, hopefully better D will win out. We'll see.
I only charge $75.00 and it includes my FBS picks thru the end of the regular season. Throw in NFL picks from my crew, and it's a great deal. Sign up right here. Thanks.

Why I gave out #KSU over #TexasTech

Let me keep this simple: I had Kansas State rated higher than Texas Tech. Since they were rated higher than TT and were underdogs, it was almost an automatic pick. What made it a 1/2-unit play for my customers was the presence of one of the greatest FBS Head Coaches of all time, Mr. Bill Snyder. He was playing the role of a road-dog. Take my word: that's a great spot for a handicapper like me.
The guys that have been with me have been with me for years. Doesn't that speak well for how I conduct my business? Hope you'll consider signing up right here, now! The fee covers the rest of this FBS season. Wow!

Why I gave out #NCST over #Clemson

I start my team ratings in July. I adjust those ratings almost every week of the year. Today, I had NCSt rated slightly ahead of Clemson, so that's reason #1...The Wolfpack is playing home...NCSt has a defense that will not be intimidated or run over by the Clemson Offense...NCSt has 4 O-linemen back with a very good QB in Finley, which is a combination I like a lot...Wolfpack played a very tough '16 Clemson very tough, and probably should have won the game.
As a result, gave NCSt out to my cleeps as a 1/2-unit play.
Why not give me a shot & sign up for our College Football Special? I know my stuff, and the guys that have been with me have been with me 10+years. That says something about me, right? Sign up right here, today. Thanks.

Our #BreedersCup Picks, #Races6thru10

Races 6 thru 10 from Del Mar Race Track have been picked for you today courtesy of Edgysam & crew.
For the $75.00 sign up fee get: all of tomorrow's Breeder's Cup picks from our star handicapper, Danny Bends...all of my FBS picks for tonight, tomorrow and the rest of the college football regular season...at least one NFL pick every Sunday, and likely, lots more than that each week. Sign up right here and have yourself great fun, while maximizing your chances to win $$$.

Race 6: 8-6-11
Race 7: 6-8-3-5
Race 8: 13-16-2-9
Race 9: 6-4-7-2
Race 10: 9-11-1-2-8-5

#HandicappingHeaven...Why?

This is what I call #HandicappingHeaven: my crew and I have games to follow and work on, every day this week.
We have the MAC Conference dominating the action TUesday, Wednesday and Thursday...We have the NFL Monday, Thursday and Sunday...We have College Football Tuesday thru Saturday...and we have the Breeder's Cup being handicapped by our star racing guy, Dan
All of this for the $75.00 fee to to join our 2017 College Football Special (& More). And, you still have the rest of the FBS regular season!
Sign up right here, right now! I'll text you all the picks.

The 2017 #CollegeFootballSpecial (& More!)

The 2017 College Football Special is finally here!
My passion is handicapping college football. I've been doing it 35+ years and founded The College Edge many years ago. My goal is to give you picks that, with discipline, will bring you a profit at the end of the year. It's also to bring a mess-load of fun into your life, like the fun I had this past Saturday, which I hash-tagged #VegasinPhilly.
I went 5-2 with the comp FBS picks I gave out, but, in addition to that, we made a small profit on the thoroughly enjoyable picks from our guest Horse-Racing handicapper. He picked every race from the Parx RaceTrack, including The Cotillion & Pennsyvania Derby stakes races! Man, it was straight-up fun. I want the same for you. Here is how I plan to do it:
1) I will release possible FBS selections on any day there is a college football game scheduled...
2) I will release at least 1 NFL play per week, and likely more, courtesy of our NFL handicapper...
3) I will release MLB plays through regular season & throughout the MLB playoffs, courtesy of our MLB handicapper...
4) I will release our top 4 finishers in every race of The Breeder's Cup! It will be courtesy of our Horse Racing handicapper. He may release other big races as well. Stay tuned.

So, here's the bottom line. I've been working on team ratings since early July to give you a great shot at winning money by the end of the 2017 regular season. And, I want you to have as much fun as I have following my own picks, as well as all the picks from my guest handicappers.
I hope you'll take the time to sign up. I'd be grateful.

( For gameplans on best ways to bet my selections, and what to avoid,  why not visit www.collegeedge.com?  These are theories I've developed over years of getting my butt kicked. Why not visit & read; get some well-researched advice).
email me at sam@college-edge.com
text me at 267-918-1064
leave message at 267-752-3343

You'll get your picks by calling a designated phone number. More details will come. Should be very easy for you to get our picks.

Sign up right here at collegeedge.blogspot.com via PayPal!

Pick Coming @8:15: #Cowboys #Cardinals

Edgysam & crew have a pick in tonight's #Cowboys #Cardinals game. It is our last comp selection before we ask you to join the College-Edge for the balance of the college regular season. Stay tuned for tonight's selection at 8:15p.m., then, stay tuned for our announcement about what's coming up with edgysam & the College-Edge,

The 2016 - 2017 #BowlSpecial ...with Refund?

I started working on this 2016 FBS season when no one was paying attention, back in July. At that time, like so many years in the past, I started doing my team ratings on every FBS team, from the SEC to the SunBelt Conferences. Like the past as well, every team rating and every game's stats were hand-written and recorded in my 3 trusty Temple notebooks.
Those ratings are adjusted throughout the season, culminating in the final team ratings I'll be using during Bowl Season.
I will most likely have a selection in every Bowl game. In some instances, two. The selections will be broken down into two recommendations: 1-unit plays ( the strongest picks ) and 1/2-unit plays. If you want to get the most of my Bowl picks, follow my recommendations! There is the possibility I may like a side so much, I may increase the unit play.
When you sign up, I'll need a phone number of your choice. I'll be texting all picks.
You can sign up through PayPal right here, or, you can make arrangements to send me a money order.
I hope you'll give me a chance. I'm good because I work hard. In fact, let me do the work, and make the Bowl Picks, while you relax, enjoy the holidays and have action on almost every bowl game.
Here's the best part: if I don't hit 53% of the picks, you get $47.00 of the $50.00 refunded.
I will keep you updated after every game. C'mom: sign up & let's have some. Thank You. Sam Follo, a.k.a. EdgySam

@EdgySam vs. #SagarinDifference...#TheBowls

USA Today has what they call the Sagarin Difference. In terms of college football, what the Sagarin Difference, developed by Jeff Sagarin, does is compare the regular betting line on a particular game with what Sagarin believes the line on the game should be.
As an example, in the National Championship game between Alabama and Clemson, the actual betting line is -7. The " Sagarin Difference " line is Alabama by -5.5.
If you follow the reasoning behind the Sagarin Difference line, based on Jeff Sagarin's power ratings, in my opinion, according to Sagarin, Clemson is the right side in the game.
In the whole bowl season, if you made your picks based on the actual betting lines of the bowl games, and Sagarin Difference line on all the bowl games, you would have gone 13 - 22 following the Sagarin Difference.
I missed about 4 games I did not have time to work on. Going head to head with the Sagarin Difference in the same exact games we both worked on, I went 19 - 16.
Why do I bring all this up? I respect Jeff Sagarin and the Sagarin Difference. Even so, a person solely following the Sagarin Differnce in relation to the real betting line would have gone 13-22 this Bowl Season. My point is quite simple: if you think it's easy picking winners during Bowl Season, or, any other time of the year, you are wrong.

#FiftyThreeorFREE #BowlSpecial - 2015

In sports wagering circles, if you pick a certain unit to wager per game ( e.g. $20.00 unit ), if you win 52.4% of your picks over the course of time, factoring in the vig of 10%, you would break even.
Under my EdgySam "Fifty-Three or Free" Bowl Special, I have to hit 53% of my Bowl Picks. If not, like the offer states right here at collegeedge.blogspot.com, I will not get paid.
If paid by money order - I'll give you the address upon request - you'll get a complete refund. If paid by PayPal, you'll get a refund of $38.00 of the $40.00 Bowl Special Fee.
Last year, I hit 57% of my bowl picks. In 2013, I hit 56% of my bowl picks.
The Bowl Special is that simple: If I hit 53% of my picks, I get paid. If I hit 52.99% of my picks, I don't get paid. Here is the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of my Bowl Special. I hope you'll give it a try.

WHO: Sam Follo, alias EdgySam. Founded The College Edge 20+years ago, but, have loved handicapping college football for more than 35 years ( have every Gold Sheet going back to 1980!).
WHAT: The "Fifty-Three or Free" Bowl Special. Do you know of any other handicapper or service that has a minimal winning percentage in order to get paid?
WHERE: You can sign up right here at collegeedge.blogspot.com. I will attempt to write a synopsis of each of my bowl picks, including totals, right here. You can also enjoy some of my handicapping and wagering philosophies at www.college-edge.com & for pure enjoyment this bowl season and beyond follow me at twitter.com/@EdgySam.
WHEN: Sign up right now at this site by PayPal. If you want to pay by money order, e-mail me at sam@college-edge.com, and we'll figure something out.
WHY: I make no guarantees. I give out no locks. I work hard and get as pumped up handicapping college football as I did when I played sports. I hit 56% of my picks in the 2013 Bowl Season, 57% in last year's Bowl Season. The highlight both years were my New Year's Day performances: I went 9-1 in 2013. I went 7-3 in 2014. FINALLY, I feel I have the talent of any college football handicapper out there ( it's the only sport I handicap). Give me a chance to prove it.
HOW: I will text or e-mail you picks for each bowl game. Sometimes I work these games right up until game-time, so always be ready for a text. Picks will be released in 1/2- and 1-unit increments. In some cases, if I really like a pick, be it totals or a side, I may release a 1.5-unit recommendation.
It is my opinion, you should decide what your unit play will be for the bowl season, and stick to that unit. I'm a firm believer in keeping units the same. I do not believe in parlays, reverses, if bets, etc., unless they are made from a pure fun angle.
I'm hard-working, I love the challenge of handicapping, and I'll be honest in my dealings with you. I hope you'll give me a chance.
Let's have some fun. I promise to work hard for you. SIGN UP NOW.

#SouthernMiss vs.#WesternKentucky - #BowlSeasonFeel

What we didn't get in the Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green matchup was the big QB battle, due to an injury to Huskie QB Drew Hare. That will not happen in the Southern Miss vs. Western Kentucky matchup. This should be a great QB shootout, as the Hilltoppers' QB Doughty faces off against the Eagles' QB Mullens. Both have had all-star type years in 2015, and, as a result, this may prove to be one of the more entertaining games of the day.
I would rate WKU's Dought slightly higher, but, SoMiss probably has the better running game with Smith leading the way ( 963 yards rushing ), while WKU has lost 1500-yard rusher ( in '14 ) Leon Allen. I also believe, and my numbers back me up, that the Eagles also have the better defense, especially vs. the run.
Under my college-edge ratings, I have Southern Miss rated slightly higher than WKU, and still, the Eagles come into this CUSA championship as an underdog.
If this were bowl season, I would make this a 1-unit play.
Two great quarterbacks and 2 very good offenses lead me to believe this will most likely be a high scoring affair.
If this were bowl season, I would make this a 1/2 unit play.

#NorthernIllinois vs. #BowlingGreen. EdgySam Bowl Preview

Man, how much fun would this MAC matchup have been if QB Hare of Northern Illinois were playing tonight vs. Bowling Green? Lots of fun.
The trouble is QB Hare is out tonight, and, to make things worse for the Huskies, backup QB Graham, who has done a pretty nice job in place of Hare, is probably out as well.
I don't see how any MAC team can keep up with the high-powered offense of Bowling Green, led by all-star QB Matt Campbell, with a 3rd string QB.
It's a shame because Northern Illinois had been  decent in every other facet of the game: They run the ball well and they defend both the run and pass well. The problem is that darn QB position. Last week the Huskies were home vs. an Ohio team they should've handled, even with a 3rd string QB. They didn't.
Ohio held the Huskies to 73 yards rushing, and 21 points. That 21-26 loss to the Bobcats just illustrates how much a sub-par QB can have negative effects on all the aspects of your team.
If it was early in the week and the line was still -9, I'd take Matt Campbell and Bowling Green. The line has moved all the way to -14, and I have no comfort taking the Falcons with that high a spread. I'm letting the side go in tonight's MAC Championship.
With the present totals line of 69, these two teams, in MAC play, have gone under the total 9 times, and over 6 times. Combine that with the fact Northern Illinois does play pretty good defense, and one of tonight's two starting QBs is a 3rd stringer, Edgysam does lean in a small play to the under in tonight's Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green matchup. If this were bowl season, I would make this a 1/2 unit play on the under.

@EdgySam Sums Up the #Alabama 2014 FBS Season

Alabama Handicapping Positives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: Nick Saban; the great recruits Saban and Alabama had coming into 2014 ( the Tide's 3rd string players are better than most mid-level program's top players ); every starting RB and Rec. from '13 came back with the exception of one starter; exceptional punt- and kick-returner in Christion Jones; HC Nick Saban.

Alabama Handicapping Negatives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: Big loss of 3-year starter A.J. McCarron; No standout leader back on defense. 'Bama had a 3rd team SECer and 2nd teamer at MLB and FS, respectively. That is an unusually small amount of star, returning defenders; only 10+ starters in total returned from '13 squad; the loss of a great punter and a very good FG kicker; new O-Coor in Lane Kiffin.

EdgySam Sums Up Alabama's 2014 FBS Season: I thought at the beginning of the season that Alabama would be good simply because they have Saban as a coach and because of the great recruits Saban always gets. I did not think they would win the SEC West, and I did not think they would win the national championship. Despite the loss to Ole Miss., my confidence in that prediction started to waver as Alabama strung together seven straight wins, including three consecutive over LSU, Miss.St, and Auburn.
They eventually did make my national prediction correct when they lost to Ohio St., but, as usual, considering Saban had a new starter at QB, and a fairly inexperienced, returning defense, I thought he did a great job.As usual, every unit on the field performed way above average. Despite a good year from new QB Blake Sims, I thought it very significant that in two of his wins, vs. Arkansas and LSU, Sims did not play well, throwing for under 50% collectively, for those two games. Sims' production in those two wins was one of the major reasons I picked Ohio St. in their semi-final, national championship contest.
Saban is judged by National Championships. Lots of people probably think the Tide's HC had a disappointing '14 season. I'd disagree. EdgySam thinks Saban did a very good job this year.

EdgySam's Very Preliminary Outlook for Alabama in 2015: I'm really stepping out on a limb: The Crimson Tide will contend for the National Championship in 2015. It almost doesn't matter how many starters Saban has coming back. That speaks very clearly to the quality of the recruits Alabama has in the program.
Regardless of that perennial contention to win it all, Saban will have to decide on who the new starting QB will be, and he may have to deal with the loss, due to early departures, of star, junior RB Yeldon and junior Heisman candidate Omari Cooper. The rest of the contending teams in the FBS better hope the Tide has a hard time replacing their top QB, RB and WR because the best defense in the country may reside in Tuscaloosa in 2015. NINE starters will return from this year's defense, including both starting cornerbacks.
If Alabama comes up with a star QB next season, I'll make the Tide and Ohio St. the favorites to win it all in 2015.

@EdgySam Sums Up #Vanderbilt 2014 FBS Season

Vanderbilt Handicapping Positives Prior to Start of 2014 Season:  There were not many positives for Vandy fans to look forward to prior to start of the 2014 season. Trying hard, I was able to come up with only a couple decent positives: the #1 RB from '13, Jerron Seymour, returned ( okay he only had 700 yards rushing), 4 of the top five offensive linemen from '13 were back, and, well, the top four starters in the defensive line were seniors.

Vanderbilt Handicapping Negatives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: new freshman starter at QB; top 3 receivers gone, including #1 receiver and All-SECer Jordan Matthews( 112 catches!); only four starters back on defense, including no returning defensive backs; the loss of a HC in James Franklin who accomplished the near impossible: 24-15 record in his three years as a HC, including a stellar 25-14 record vs. the spread. For perspective, prior to Franklin's arrival, the Commodores had a 27-56 straight up record for the 7 years prior to Franklin's term as HC. I will make this point: believe it or not, despite the seemingly bad 27-56 record, the HC at the time, Bobby Johnson, did a pretty decent job at the Nashville school.

EdgySam Sums Up Vanderbilt's 2014 Season: With the loss of an outstanding coach in James Franklin, and his replacement, Derek Mason, having NO HC experience entering this 2014 campaign, things would have been grim for the Coomodores. The return of only 9 starters total from '13 would probably make things worse. They did! In my preseason notes, I wrote only 2 words which summarized succinctly my feelings for Vandy's chances in 2014: " Big Trouble." I thought the Commodores would be the worst team in the SEC. They were.
Vandy was 0-8 vs. the SEC. Collectively, the 'Dores were horrible rushing the ball, horrible passing the ball, horrible defending the rush, and horrible defending the pass. Ostensibly, Vanderbilt might be right back in the spot they held before HC Franklin came to Nashville. Will Mason, a HC with no proven track record, be able to return Vandy to the successes of the Franklin era? It will be VERY hard.

EdgySam Very Preliminary Outlook for Vanderbilt in 2015: Quarterback McCrary had a horrible year, but, he is returning and he was the 31st rated QB of his HS class. That should be a positive, right? It should help that McCrary will have eight other starters back on offense from this year's squad.
The Commodores lose most of the D-Linemen from this year's team, but, 7 of the 8 linebackers and D-Backs will return in '15.
Vandy will have a decent amount of starters back from '14, which is usually a good sign. The problem is the returning starters played horribly in '14. I have no confidence that these same starters will not be horrible again in 2015. If Franklin were still the HC, I'd be extremely confident for big things in the new year. He's a proven commodity. Is there any person reading this who has confidence that a HC with only 1 year of experience coaching in the FBS will get results from the upcoming 2015 Commodore team? Speaking only for myself: I don't.

@EdgySam Sums Up #Tennessee 2014 FBS Season

Tennessee Positives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: Returning QBs all had starting experience; I liked coach Butch Jones. He did a good job at Central Michigan and Cincinnati; all of the top receivers returned from the '13 squad; all starting defensive backs from '13 returned to the '14 team.

Tennessee Negatives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: the returning QBs from '13 all returned, but, all had bad years as starters; no full time starters returned to the O-line; lost a 1100-yard rusher from the '13 team; only ONE starter returned to front seven on defense; the Vols play in the toughest conference in the FBS - the SEC.

EdgySam Sums Up Tennessee's 2014 Season: The Vols played up to my expectations. They didn't rush the ball well; they didn't defend the rush well; they didn't pass the ball well. The only part of their game that met expectations, because of the experience at the defensive back positions, was the pass defense. In typical SEC fashion, and which further illustrates how tough the SEC is, Tennessee was 3-5 in conference play, but, were 3-1 in non-conference games. In my preseason notes, I wrote that I should be " worried about new OL, stinky QBs and no D-line. Tread carefully with Vols." Considering weaknesses that coach Jones had coming into '13, it wasn't that bad a year for the team from Knoxville.

EdgySam Very Preliminary Outlook for Tennessee in 2015: 8.5 starters return to the offense, including all of the O-Line. Eight starters return to the defense. Like Kentucky, unless the Vols get improved play from the quarterback position, it'll probably be the same old stuff for them in 2015. They'll get 2, maybe 3 wins at the most, vs. the SEC, and probably kick butt when they play teams outside of their own tough conference. I do like HC Jones a lot. With 16 starters back, he might be able step up in class in the SEC. He might. He probably won't, at least not in 2015.

@EdgySam Summarizes #SouthCarolina 2014 FBS Season

South Carolina Handicapping Positives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: 4 O-Linemen returned to start from '13; 2nd SEC RB Davis, with 1183 yards rushing in '13, returned; #1 receiver departed, but, every other significant receiver returned from '13; all LBs returned as well as starters at the non-cornerback defensive back positions; Coach Steve Spurrier!

South Carolina Handicapping Negatives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: Loss of QB Connor Shaw. He threw for 63.4% in 2013 and had an unreal 24-1 TD to Int. ratio. Wow; the loss of 3 quality D-Linemen ( #1 DC, a 3rd team AA DT, and a starting DE!); loss of both starting CBs from 2013.

EdgySam Summarizes South Carolina's 2014 Season: According to my College Edge ratings, the Gamecocks defense was horrible this year. I was surprised. Maybe I shouldn't have been. The gigantic losses in the D-Line and at the cornerback positions were right there for me to see. I ignored them, or lessened their significance probably because of my respect for the coaching ability of Spurrier. Man, was I wrong. As surprising, was the relative inefficiency of Spurrier's offense.Okay, Connor Shaw should have been hard to replace, but, QB Thompson was a senior, knew Spurrier's program and I thought he'd contribute more than he did. Also, I don't have RB Davis' final numbers, but, he underperformed dramatically. I took South Carolina in the first game of the year vs. A&M. I was surprised how they got thrashed. I shouldn't have been. For EdgySam, South Carolina was one of the big disappointments of the 2014 FBS Season!

EdgySam's Very Preliminary Outlook for South Carolina in 2015: Seven starters back on offense. The quarterback will be new, but, I'm looking forward to who will be starting. He will have to be better than this year's QB. Right?
The defense will have 8 starters back on defense, including 3 defensive linemen and both starting cornerbacks. The defense has to be better. Right?
Am I getting sucked in by my respect for the Old Ball Coach? Again?