With some other high-profile match-ups set to take place on New Year's Day, the Outback Bowl battle between the Michigan Wolverines and the South Carolina Gamecocks is not necessarily receiving a great deal of national attention. After the events of Wednesday night, though, there might be more of a microscope on the festivities from Tampa.
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In short, a pre-game event featuring both teams at a local bowling establishment turned into something of a near throw-down, as members of the squads were captured jawing and exchanging unpleasantries in front of live cameras.
Michigan and South Carolina players jawing at an Outback Bowl bowling event. pic.twitter.com/97FFXZKoxk
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) December 28, 2017
A fight nearly broke out between #Michigan and #SouthCarolina at Splitsville. pic.twitter.com/ghzbCVNzWA
— Isaiah Hole (@isaiahhole) December 28, 2017
Of course, it has to be noted that no real physical scrum actually took place but it is definitely noteworthy when two Power 5 squads nearly square off in an off-field setting.
Jim Harbaugh and Will Muschamp have reputations for their no-nonsense approaches and, apparently, both teams are focused on this particular match-up to the point where temperatures are already running hot many hours before kick-off. The Wolverines are seen as Las Vegas favorites in the neutral field contest but, if nothing else, this should provide motivation for both parties and a bowl atmosphere that might be a little more intense than the average Big Ten versus SEC match-up in early January.
