We are taking a look at a key matchup in each ACC bowl game. Next up: Duck Commander Independence Bowl Miami (6-6) vs. South Carolina (6-6) When/where: Dec. 27, Shreveport, La. Key matchup: Duke Johnson vs. Mike Davis Why it matters: It might be too simplistic to say, "May the best running team win!" But in a game that does not have a lot of sizzle, these two backs are the reason worth watching. Johnson has had a career year, with 1,890 yards on offense and 13 total touchdowns. This could be his final game in a Miami uniform, too, as he contemplates whether to leave school early for the NFL draft. South Carolina has struggled to stop anybody on the ground, ranking No. 107 in the nation in rush defense. It is a near certainty Johnson will have at least 100 yards rushing in this game. Davis, meanwhile, is closing in on his second 1,000-yard season. George Rogers is the only South Carolina back with more than one, so Davis would find himself in pretty elite company. He is facing a Miami defense that has crumbled against the run of late. Though the Canes made strides defensively early in the season, they allowed a combined 421 yards rushing in their last two losses. Granted, nobody has been able to slow down James Conner, but it is not as if Davis will be facing the Steel Curtain. It seems pretty clear the strategy for both teams should be to hand the ball off as many times as possible to see if their respective backs can be stopped. Who wins: Johnson is the better back, but that does not necessarily mean Miami wins. The Canes could win this matchup on the stat sheet, but lose if the team decides to play the way it did against Pitt and Virginia. Miami players and athletic director Blake James have reassured us all the Canes will be plenty motivated to play, for the seniors and to avoid a losing record. But it is hard to believe them at this point, given what we saw when the season ended. You can bet Gator alum Steve Spurrier will find a reason for his team to be motivated to beat Miami. Those intangibles are going to make all the difference, because based on personnel, this game could go either way. Prediction: South Carolina 30, Miami 27
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