Gamecock football 2010 outlook
The South Carolina Gamecocks are just days away from opening up fall camp in preparation of the 2010 season...well, they've been preparing all summer with workouts just like other teams, but that is beside the point.
So, today I'll do my best to navigate the schedule and give you an idea of how I think this Gamecock season will fair.
vs. Southern Miss
Carolina will kickoff the season with their game against Southern Miss. The Eagles aren't an easy opponent. They are historically strong on defense, and they have installed a spread offense. Southern Miss is coming off a 7-5 season, but they could easily have gone 10-3, losing three games by less than a touchdown.
The Gamecocks should win. But it won't be a cakewalk.
Gamecocks 27 Southern Miss 14
vs Georgia
Carolina then opens SEC play with border-rival Georgia. The Bulldogs are in a little bit of a flux. Head coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat, they are installing a 3-4 defense and they are bringing in an inexperienced QB in Aaron Murray. The 'Dogs don't yet have the personnel to run the 3-4, so there will be growing pains there, and for Murray. The game will still be close like always, but Carolina should walk away with a victory.
Gamecocks 17 Georgia 10
vs Furman
This should be one of Carolina's two cakewalk games this year. Furman is a a traditionally good team in the Southern Conference, but they just don't have the athletes or depth to hang with Carolina past halftime. Carolina pulls away in the second half.
Gamecocks 35 Furman 13
@ Auburn
The Gamecocks travel to the Plains to take on the Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen. Auburn's offense vs Carolina's defense will be the matchup to watch. The Gamecock D was built to handle spread teams. It will also be a good chance to see Auburn QB Cam Newton (former Florida Gator). Tough game to pick, since we haven't seen Newton.
Gamecocks 23 Auburn 24
vs Alabama
Carolina wraps up their competition against the state of Alabama, hosting the Crimson Tide.
Mark Ingram launched himself into the Hesiman race last year after the Carolina game. It will be close game, but I think the Tide are just too physical, and 'Bama steals one late.
Gamecocks 14 Alabama 24
@ Kentucky
Steve Spurrier puts his undefeated streak against Kentucky on the line again. The last time the game was in the Blue Grass state, it was a wacky game with turnovers and special teams play. Kentucky has a nice group of players on offense with QBs Mike Hartline and Morgan Newton, RB Derrick Locke and WRs Chris Matthews and Randall Cobb. The problem is on defense though.
Gamecocks 27 Kentucky 17
@ Vanderbilt
The Commodores are in an absolute mess. They lost their best players on defense to the draft, head coach Bobby Johnson retired, and they return an anemic offense. For some reason, they always find a way to play Carolina close, and RB Warren Norman always has his biggest game against the Gamecocks.
Gamecocks 14 Vanderbilt 10
vs Tennessee
The Vandy is in a little bit of a mess, their rival Vols are a preverbial junkyard. Lane Kiffin left them high and dry, and now head coach Derek Dooley has inherited a program gone wild, culminating in a bar fight that has eight, yes EIGHT, players under investigation. Dooley already dismissed one player, suspended two, and will wait and see what to do with the others. Did I mention they are replacing their offensive line and bringing in a new QB. It will be a long year and Knoxville.
Gamecocks 27 Tennessee 13
vs Arkansas
What else can you say about QB Ryan Mallett? He is the unquestioned best QB in the conference as he motors coach Bobby Petrino's offense. The question for the Razorbacks won't be offense, but defense. They have pieces in place to maybe win the West, and I think they steal one in Columbia as the Gamecocks have their one flat performance of the year.
Arkansas 27 Gamecocks 14
@ Florida
This is the game of the season for Carolina. At this point, I believe this game will be for a trip to Atlanta. The Gators will have had time to bring in their new defense and new players on that defense. Also, QB John Brantley will have virtually a year under his belt as the starter. It will be in The Swamp. Carolina came close in 2006, but got their doors blown off in 2008. But I think Carolina gets it done this year.
Gamecocks 17 Florida 14
vs Troy
This is a trap game if Carolina beats Florida. Coming off that high of a win, Troy is sandwiched between Florida and Clemson. It is highly possible Carolina overlooks Troy to rival Clemson to close out the year and Troy pulls a 1984 Navy. I don't think that happens, but Carolina fans have a closer-than-wanted game.
Gamecocks 10 Troy 7
@ Clemson
The Battle of the Palmetto State. Throw out the records as usual. Carolina won the game last year in Columbia pretty easily, and though The Tigers have QB Kyle Parker, their best offensive weapons in C.J. Spiller, Jacoby Ford and Michael Palmer are gone. Should be a close game, but Carolina wins back-to-back for the first time in a LOOOONG time.
Gamecocks 31 Clemson 28
Final: Carolina goes 9-3, 5-3 in the SEC. The Gamecocks head to Atlanta as they rematch against Alabama. But, I think the Crimson Tide beat them again, but, since Alabama probably goes to the National Title, Carolina would find themselves in the Sugar Bowl.
So, today I'll do my best to navigate the schedule and give you an idea of how I think this Gamecock season will fair.
vs. Southern Miss
Carolina will kickoff the season with their game against Southern Miss. The Eagles aren't an easy opponent. They are historically strong on defense, and they have installed a spread offense. Southern Miss is coming off a 7-5 season, but they could easily have gone 10-3, losing three games by less than a touchdown.
The Gamecocks should win. But it won't be a cakewalk.
Gamecocks 27 Southern Miss 14
vs Georgia
Carolina then opens SEC play with border-rival Georgia. The Bulldogs are in a little bit of a flux. Head coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat, they are installing a 3-4 defense and they are bringing in an inexperienced QB in Aaron Murray. The 'Dogs don't yet have the personnel to run the 3-4, so there will be growing pains there, and for Murray. The game will still be close like always, but Carolina should walk away with a victory.
Gamecocks 17 Georgia 10
vs Furman
This should be one of Carolina's two cakewalk games this year. Furman is a a traditionally good team in the Southern Conference, but they just don't have the athletes or depth to hang with Carolina past halftime. Carolina pulls away in the second half.
Gamecocks 35 Furman 13
@ Auburn
The Gamecocks travel to the Plains to take on the Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen. Auburn's offense vs Carolina's defense will be the matchup to watch. The Gamecock D was built to handle spread teams. It will also be a good chance to see Auburn QB Cam Newton (former Florida Gator). Tough game to pick, since we haven't seen Newton.
Gamecocks 23 Auburn 24
vs Alabama
Carolina wraps up their competition against the state of Alabama, hosting the Crimson Tide.
Mark Ingram launched himself into the Hesiman race last year after the Carolina game. It will be close game, but I think the Tide are just too physical, and 'Bama steals one late.
Gamecocks 14 Alabama 24
@ Kentucky
Steve Spurrier puts his undefeated streak against Kentucky on the line again. The last time the game was in the Blue Grass state, it was a wacky game with turnovers and special teams play. Kentucky has a nice group of players on offense with QBs Mike Hartline and Morgan Newton, RB Derrick Locke and WRs Chris Matthews and Randall Cobb. The problem is on defense though.
Gamecocks 27 Kentucky 17
@ Vanderbilt
The Commodores are in an absolute mess. They lost their best players on defense to the draft, head coach Bobby Johnson retired, and they return an anemic offense. For some reason, they always find a way to play Carolina close, and RB Warren Norman always has his biggest game against the Gamecocks.
Gamecocks 14 Vanderbilt 10
vs Tennessee
The Vandy is in a little bit of a mess, their rival Vols are a preverbial junkyard. Lane Kiffin left them high and dry, and now head coach Derek Dooley has inherited a program gone wild, culminating in a bar fight that has eight, yes EIGHT, players under investigation. Dooley already dismissed one player, suspended two, and will wait and see what to do with the others. Did I mention they are replacing their offensive line and bringing in a new QB. It will be a long year and Knoxville.
Gamecocks 27 Tennessee 13
vs Arkansas
What else can you say about QB Ryan Mallett? He is the unquestioned best QB in the conference as he motors coach Bobby Petrino's offense. The question for the Razorbacks won't be offense, but defense. They have pieces in place to maybe win the West, and I think they steal one in Columbia as the Gamecocks have their one flat performance of the year.
Arkansas 27 Gamecocks 14
@ Florida
This is the game of the season for Carolina. At this point, I believe this game will be for a trip to Atlanta. The Gators will have had time to bring in their new defense and new players on that defense. Also, QB John Brantley will have virtually a year under his belt as the starter. It will be in The Swamp. Carolina came close in 2006, but got their doors blown off in 2008. But I think Carolina gets it done this year.
Gamecocks 17 Florida 14
vs Troy
This is a trap game if Carolina beats Florida. Coming off that high of a win, Troy is sandwiched between Florida and Clemson. It is highly possible Carolina overlooks Troy to rival Clemson to close out the year and Troy pulls a 1984 Navy. I don't think that happens, but Carolina fans have a closer-than-wanted game.
Gamecocks 10 Troy 7
@ Clemson
The Battle of the Palmetto State. Throw out the records as usual. Carolina won the game last year in Columbia pretty easily, and though The Tigers have QB Kyle Parker, their best offensive weapons in C.J. Spiller, Jacoby Ford and Michael Palmer are gone. Should be a close game, but Carolina wins back-to-back for the first time in a LOOOONG time.
Gamecocks 31 Clemson 28
Final: Carolina goes 9-3, 5-3 in the SEC. The Gamecocks head to Atlanta as they rematch against Alabama. But, I think the Crimson Tide beat them again, but, since Alabama probably goes to the National Title, Carolina would find themselves in the Sugar Bowl.
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