The 2022 Gator Bowl features the 8-4 No.21 Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the 8-4 No.19 South Carolina Gamecocks. Here is the 2022 Gator Bowl preview.
What started out very shaky for the Irish finished as a respectable season. Notre Dame knocked off four bowl eligible teams including some big wins against ACC opponents Syracuse, North Carolina and Clemson. There were some head scratching losses outside of acceptable losses to Ohio State and Southern Cal. The Irish also lost at home to Marshall and Stanford.
Notre Dame averages 30.7 points per game which ties for 38th. They rely heavily on their ground game which averages 182.8 yards per game (ranked 41st). They average just 199.9 yards through the air (ranked 95th).
The passing game will be in an even worse spot with starting quarterback Drew Pyne transferring. Furthermore, projected first round tight end Michael Mayer has opted out. Mayer by far led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Tyler Buchner, who was injured after two iffy starts to the season, is expected to be back. Regardless, the offense will go through the ground game as expected. Logan Diggs and Audric Estime will both be active. Both runningbacks averaged at least 4.8 yards per carry with both receiving over 142 carries this year.
Notre Dame had a solid defense this year allowing 21.75 points per game which ranks 31st. They allowed 190.6 yards through the air (ranked 21st) and 136.8 yards on the ground (45th). They’ll be without their top pass rusher Isaiah Foskey who led the team with 11 sacks. Freshman Benjamin Joseph will be a player to keep an eye on. He busted onto the scene this year leading the team in interceptions (5) and passes defended (4).
South Carolina had one heck of a season in year two of Shane Beamer’s tenure. The Gamecocks had just three wins over bowl eligible teams but they were big ones. They got wins at then ranked No.13 Kentucky, No.5 Tennessee and at No.8 Clemson. It was the first win over Tennessee since 2018. And it was the first win over Clemson since the Steve Spurrier years in 2013.
South Carolina averages 31.7 points per game which ranks 41st in the country. They pass for 257.8 per game (ranked 41st) and rush for 123.3 yards per game (ranked 101st).
There are some significant losses for the bowl game for Carolina. Leading rusher Marshawn Lloyd and second leading rusher Jaheim Bell are both not playing. Bell was also fourth on the team in reception yards. Second leading receiver Jalen Brooks’ status is unknown for the game as well. That leaves most of the onus on the passing game which was average at best until the end of the season. Transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler, who was sporadic throughout the season, closed out the final four games with 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
The Gamecocks allowed 27.5 points per game which ranks 78th. They allowed 199.5 yards through the air per game (ranked 28th) and 192.4 yards on the ground (ranked 112th). Starting defensive linemen Zacch Pickens and edge rusher Gilber Edmond are both out. DQ Smith who was one of the nation’s best defensive backs is also out, along with starter Darius Rush. Safety Devonni Reed is also out in due to the NFL Draft. This leaves the secondary very thin. While not ideal, Notre Dame’s lack of a passing attack should minimize this to an extent.
Both teams will have a plethora of opt outs which makes for another intriguing bowl game. Additionally the offenses are going to be severely hindered where they already struggle with Notre Dame in their passing game and South Carolina in their running game, respectively. Expect this one to be close. South Carolina struggles mightily against the run which is going to be Notre Dame’s go to.
Notre Dame 24 South Carolina 28
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