It’s rivalry week. Many of the nation’s biggest rivalries will be played this weekend (and the Egg Bowl between Mississippi State and Ole Miss has already been played). One of the country’s most hostile national rivalries will be played out this Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium when Shane Beamer South Carolina football team hosts rival Clemson Tigers in Columbia.
The Gamecocks are 5-6 and need another win to secure their bowl eligibility (however, a handful of 5-7 teams are also expected to receive invitations). Clemson is 7-4 but has a losing mark (3-4) against teams with a winning record. The Gamecocks are 4-5 against teams with more wins than losses.
South Carolina football vs. Clemson:
How to watch
The Gamecocks and Tigers will play on SECNetwork (and the ESPN app) at 7:30 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium. Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang will be on the call.
The Gamecocks never won, with Zarzour, Stinchcomb and Lang all three working one of their games.
South Carolina football vs. Clemson:
Plots to watch
There will be a lot of talking points during the Carolina-Clemson game this season, as there usually is.
The Gamecocks’ quest for bowl eligibility and Clemson’s hopes of being able to play spoiler will be among the biggest storylines of the day. Last year, as South Carolina football fans remember, the Gamecocks knocked Clemson out of the College Football Playoff, so the Tigers will be looking for revenge.
Both teams have 1st year offensive coordinators. The overall numbers were pretty similar for both teams, but Clemson ran the ball better and the Gamecocks had a better passing attack. Dowell Loggains probably slightly outperformed expectations, while Garrett Riley probably slightly underperformed expectations.
South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White was considered a walking dead man just three weeks ago. The Gamecock defense has had its two best games of the year since then (while using a new 3-3-5 base defense). Would another solid game against Clemson save his job, or will he disappear like offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield last year?
Spencer Rattler (3,074 passing yards) and Xavier Legette (1,187 receiving yards) have a chance to make history for the South Carolina football program. Both players are unlikely to set single-season records this week, but if USC manages to reach a bowl, Dylan Thompson (3,564 passing yards) and Alshon Jeffery (1,517 receiving yards) could both see their records fall.
Former President Donald Trump will be at the game. The visit has no significance to the game, but it will certainly be a topic of discussion.
However, some recruiting visitors will be in town to check out the South Carolina football program. Top targets like Solomon Thomas, Marshall PritchettAnd Daniel Hill will be among the visitors.
The Carolina-Clemson game is the first since 2008 in which both teams suffered at least 4 losses heading into the game.
South Carolina football vs. Clemson:
What the experts say
The lead for the Palmetto Bowl has been hovering around the touchdown mark since the line opened.
ESPN’s FPI gives Clemson a 65.4% chance of winning the game.
The FoxSports college football team thinks the Gamecocks will cover the spread, but Clemson will win 28-22.
Emily Adams of the Greenville News feels the same way, predicting Clemson to win 28-21.
South Carolina football vs. Clemson:
Official prediction of Garnet and Cocky
South Carolina football fans and Clemson fans have been waiting for this weekend all season.
Clemson is determined to get revenge after being eliminated from the College Football Playoff last season, and the Gamecocks need a win to ensure they go bowling this postseason.
Williams-Brice Stadium hosted three straight Gamecock victories in November as USC knocked off Jacksonville State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. The biggest test of this stretch of home games is, without a doubt, the Clemson Tigers.
Clemson’s running game, led by Will Shipley and Phil Maffah, could be a big problem for the Gamecocks on Saturday. South Carolina has posted pretty good numbers against the run overall this season, but a lot of that is due to issues in pass defense, which makes throwing the ball more appealing at times.
Clemson is among college football’s leaders in lost fumbles. If they continue this trend, the Gamecocks (who have recovered 6 fumbles in their last 3 games) will benefit. Over the last two seasons, South Carolina football is 10-0 in home games in which they force a turnover. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is not an interception machine, but he has thrown some bad ones this year.
Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler will have to be very good against a strong Clemson defense for the Gamecocks to win. Barring a massive deviation from the norm, USC’s anemic rushing attack won’t be able to get going against Clemson’s talented front. However, Rattler and his pass catchers are good enough to make things happen if the offensive line can give them enough time.
Xavier Legette is not a player who allows himself to be bottled up very well. At 6’3″ and 225 pounds, he runs a sub-4.4 in the 40, and Gamecock fans have seen all season what he can if given just an inch of space. However, he will have a lot of attention on him on Saturday. Secondary playmakers like Josh Simon, Nyck Harbor and Ahmarean Brown will need to play well to give the ‘Cocks a chance.
A key matchup in this game will be between Clemson’s wide receiver group and South Carolina’s secondary. Beaux Collins will miss the game after tearing his plantar fascia, but Tyler Brown and Antonio Williams (both of whom can operate in the slot) will have plenty of opportunities to make plays against a weak Gamecocks pass defense.
Things have improved on defense since defensive coordinator Clayton White switched to a primary 3-3-5, but there are still some coverage issues for the Gamecocks, particularly in man. Marcellas Dial is pretty good on an island, but other DBs have struggled when left alone, and Carolina’s safeties (anyone who can tackle run support well) are less than elite on the backend.
Another improvement to the 3-3-5 was seen in USC’s pass rush. If the Gamecocks can put some pressure on Klubnik, the young quarterback could make some mistakes. If he has all day to throw, it could be a long day for the Gamecock D.
Frankly, this game seems like one where South Carolina will have a legitimate chance to win. However, the lack of a running game coupled with tough pass protection from the Gamecock offensive line could be the undoing of Dowell Loggains’ offense.
In a game that looks like it should be won, the most likely outcome is probably a close loss in which the defense struggles just enough to allow Clemson to find the end zone, making it too difficult for the Gamecock offense to keep up an elite. Tiger defense.
Prediction
Clemson Tigers
24
Caroline from the south Game roosters
17
