Ring in new year in Atlanta?
Buckhead. The Virginia-Highlands. The Georgia Aquarium. Maybe a Hawks’ game at Philips Arena or ice skating in Centennial Park.
There’s a lot going on in Atlanta around the holidays, including the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year’s Eve, which is what many South Carolina fans have their sights on.
It’s not as simple as USC beating Clemson and punching its ticket to the Georgia Dome against an ACC opponent. The middle of the SEC is much too jumbled for a scenario that clear-cut.
But the Gamecocks have a real shot at their first Peach/Chick-fil-A berth since 1969, when the game was in its infancy and played outdoors at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
After talking to bowl folks and others familiar with the SEC bowl selection process, here’s what they think has to happen for USC to make it to Atlanta:
1) Gamecocks beat Clemson. The Atlanta discussion ends here with a loss to the Tigers, and USC will be among the last SEC teams picked – by either the Independence or the Papajohns.com.
2) Auburn loses to Alabama. Tigers would still be 7-5 (same as USC in this scenario), but would have lost their final two games. Momentum is big to most bowl officials.
3) Georgia loses to Georgia Tech. The Chick-fil-A folks don’t mind having a local team once in a while. And though things aren’t real pleasant in Athens this week, a lot can change with a win over your rival (see No. 1 above).
That could do it. Maybe. But there are a couple of X-factors:
4) The loser of this week’s Kentucky-Tennessee game. The winner is expected to go to the Outback Bowl. But the Outback president is a Kentucky grad, and this is a bowl that often has gone against the grain in its picks.
If the Outback took Kentucky, even after a loss to Tennessee, that would put the 7-5 Vols in play for the Chick-fil-A. UT beat the Gamecocks, would have won four of its last five (in this scenario) and would bring a bunch of people to Atlanta after missing a bowl last season.
If Tennessee beats UK and gets the Outback bid, USC likely would be the Chick-fil-A’s pick over the ‘Cats.
5) What to do with LSU if the Tigers lose to Arkansas? LSU-Arky winner likely is headed to Dallas for the Cotton.
And in most years, Chick-fil-A president Gary Stokan would not pass on an 8-4 LSU team. But the Tigers were in the Chick-fil-A last year and would be dealing with an unhappy fan base if LSU drops its final two to Ole Miss (in excruciating fashion) and Arkansas. LSU probably slips to Memphis and the Liberty Bowl with an L to the Hogs.
Of course, none of this matters if USC does not take care of step 1.
An excerpt from Leeman Bennett’s Chick-fil-A team selection blog this week, which mentioned UT, Auburn and UK as the other SEC possibilities:
South Carolina:
Another team coming off of a bye week with a big rivalry game coming up this week. If South Carolina can take down Clemson at home and get to 7-5, they may just get a shot at the Chick-fil-A Bowl for the first time since 1969. We’ll be watching to see if Eric Norwood and crew can find an answer for C.J. Spiller. That should be the key to the game. The conversation about USC was short, and to the point: They must win.
20 Comments to “Ring in new year in Atlanta?”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
joe: 1969 peach bowl was played at ga tech, not atlanta stadium
Joe – For the record, in its infancy, the Peach Bowl was played at Georgia Tech’s Grant Field. I know because I was there in ‘69. Man, did it rain that night.
Two other things to consider, Joe. If Kentucky beats UT, UK goes to the Outback at 8-4. UT, at 6-6, would likely be headed to Birmingham.
The other consideration is Clemson… not the USC game this week, but the ACC Championship. Remember, the Chick-fil-a Bowl is the #2 bowl for the ACC. If Clemson loses to Tech, they are heading to Atlanta. Do you really think they would be interested in a USC/Clemson rematch?
Memphis — I didn’t get into the ACC picture. But you’re right, matchups are big in that Atlanta game. Our Clemson beat writer had a story in Tuesday’s editions about the possibility that CU could be passed over for Va. Tech in the Chick-fil-A even with a win over USC.
The first Peach Bowl was at Grant Field.
they wouldnt do it but a CU USC rematch would certainly sell out the place
Clemson would probably go to the Gator after they lose to Tech in the ACC Championship Game.
They need to add another step:
6) Clemson beats Georgia Tech
Whatever happens in Williams-Brice, the CFA bowl is probably going to take Clemson over USC if Clemson loses the championship game. They don’t like rematches.
A USC/VT Chick-fil-A bowl is possible, but highly unlikely. Which would you rather have in Atlanta? USC/VT or Clemson/UT?
BTW, the 1969 Peach Bowl was outdoors, but it wasn’t in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. It was at Georgia Tech’s Grant Field.
Jim Carlen’s West Virginia Mountaineers beat the Gamecocks 14-3.
A 6-6 team going to a bowl? What a travesty. Stay home, you have earned nothing.
Virginia Tech was in Atlanta for the preseason Chick-fil-A game, so it doesnt make sense that the bowl folks would want them back four months later. If USC is available when Music City picks, they will take em 6-6 or 7-5. Independence gets Arky if they lose to LSU or the UT-Kentucky loser.
6-6 with a four game losing streak. No bowl for you. Stay home. Me and CarolinaCowboy will watch the bowl game together.
It’s interesting that the best USC can do is probably the worst that Clemson can do
[...] 1. Steve Spurrier tries to walk the line between making too little or making too much of the Clemson game.2. Clemson has won 10 of their last 12 against the Gamecocks and Spurrier said, “maybe they’ve had better teams than South Carolina.”3. There have been some unforgettable (and funny) moments in the rivalry’s history.4. Tired of answering the same question, Spurrier asked yesterday, “By the way, how does Clemson do their play-calling, since that seems to be a big thing around here?”5. Spurrier doesn’t believe this year’s team is facing the distractions that last year’s team did during Clemson week. “We were sort of in disarray, had a lot of guys going in different directions, I guess. Maybe coaches, too.” By that he meant players to the NFL and David Reaves to Tennessee.6. Carolina’s bowl picture is still awfully cloudy…7. But here’s how they can wind up in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Bowl. [...]
After a good helping of baked Tiger the Gamecocks will be on to Chic-fil-A. The tiggers will lose their last three games..mark it down clem fans.
What’s this…Gamecocks in something called the Chick-fil-A Bowl? Sounds like a perfect fit, feathers and all. Too bad the Delaware Blue Hens aren’t a BCS team.
Ahh let Clemson go to the Chick-fil-A bowl. They own that bowl and they deserve another chance to lose it again.
If SOS can’t motivate his team to get up for their arch rival, then 6-6 is not good enough for a bowl and he is not good enough for USC.
SC 45
CU 24
Halftime: SC 24-14
carolinacowboy/Alum79/LR…all three of you losers stay home for USC’s bowl. Carolina doesn’t need poor-mouthing, fair-weather fans like you around our program anymore. To the true-blue Gamecock fans, see you in Atlanta or Nashville!
34-17, 7-5, how do you like those apples?