South Carolina football: 3 bold predictions for week 2

Bold predictions for South Carolina football

Luke Doty totals 300+ yards in season debut

Not only do we expect Doty to make his first start of the season, we think he’ll shine against a struggling Pirates defense. That group allowed more than 35 points a game last season. Things didn’t get much better in their opener, as the Pirates surrendered 33 points and 485 yards to Appalachian State, with 226 coming on the ground and 259 coming through the air.

With Doty’s ability to both run and throw, we think he’ll see a ton of success moving the ball throughout the game. ECU is expected to key in on the South Carolina running backs, so look for Doty to utilize play action to either throw the ball downfield or tuck and run himself.

The four-star signal caller showed his abilities last year, taking over under center for the final three games. He was most successful against Missouri, totaling 189 yards in just two quarters of action. He also made starts versus Georgia and Kentucky, both of whom possess much stiffer tests on defense than East Carolina.

Doty notched double digit rushing attempts in each of his three appearances last season, and we expect that trend to continue. We also think that the coaching staff will open up the playbook a bit after playing pretty conservatively against Eastern Illinois. We rarely saw the Gamecocks throw deep, and the team attempted just 28 passes on offense, compared to 47 rushes.

The Gamecocks might need each and every one of Doty’s 300 yards, too, as the game is expected to remain close throughout. Doty gives the team the most versatility at the position, as he’s a weapon with his arm and feet. Look for a breakout performance in his season debut.