South Carolina football: Gamecocks take on Georgia in SEC East showdown
By Jacob Elsey
The South Carolina football team takes on UGA this holiday weekend.
South Carolina faces off against SEC East rival Georgia in the ninth game of a ten-game season. The Gamecocks, currently sitting at 2-6, will host the Bulldogs, who enter the matchup at 5-2.
Georgia leads this all time series by a record of 47-18-2, and they’ve won four of the last five in the series, but the Gamecocks did take last year’s meeting in a double overtime thriller.
South Carolina will be in their second game under the leadership of interim head coach Mike Bobo, a former Georgia quarterback and play caller. They lost last weekend to Missouri in a 17-10 defensive slugfest, but may have found a new face under center in freshman Luke Doty. Doty entered the game at halftime, leading the Gamecocks to their only 10 points and totaling 159 yards, leading the team in rushing and passing.
The Gamecocks have been most productive in the run game, with tailback Kevin Harris leading the SEC in rushing. Having the dual-threat Doty in the backfield could open up some creative options in the rushing attack as South Carolina looks to be successful against the league’s second ranked defense (21.9 pt/g).
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, are coming off of a win against Mississippi State, and seem to have found their quarterback of the future in transfer JT Daniels. Daniels threw for 401 yards and four touchdowns in his first start.
Play on defense will the key for South Carolina if they hope to pull an upset for the second consecutive season. Last year’s unit was up to the task, but this team’s group may be a bit short handed.
The Gamecocks have seen three members of the secondary opt out of the remainder of the season, including the unit’s best player in cornerback Jaycee Horn. Also out is Israel Mukuamau, who had three picks against the Bulldogs last year.
South Carolina’s defense showed fight last week, keeping Missouri off the scoreboard in the second half of last week’s loss, but they still rank 12th in the SEC, allowing 34.3 points an outing.
KEY MATCHUPS TO WATCH
South Carolina secondary v. JT Daniels
As mentioned, the Gamecocks’ secondary is depleted. And the group hadn’t been stellar prior to some of those defects, allowing more than 275 yards a game through the air.
JT Daniels settled in last week, throwing four touchdowns to total 28 of the Bulldogs’ 31 points. It may be a matchup of strength versus weakness. Is the secondary up to the challenge?
South Carolina run game v. UGA defense
Kevin Harris and Luke Doty rushed for 117 combined yards last week versus Missouri. Harris, the league’s leading rusher, is averaging 109.4 yards a game. Georgia allows the fewest yards to opposing backs of anyone in the SEC (74.1 yd/g).
If the rushing attack can stay consistent, it could allow the Gamecocks to control the clock and keep the Bulldog offense on the sidelines. If not, the Gamecocks will need to rely on a passing attack that’s been subpar all season.
PREDICTION
South Carolina has struggled on offense, and though they may have some new excitement at the quarterback position, Doty is still a freshman that will be without his top receiving option in Shi Smith, going up against a stout Bulldog defense.
It will be tough sledding for the Gamecock offense, and the secondary may not be able to contain the Georgia pass catchers.
Georgia gets back in the win column in the series.
UGA – 34
SC – 17