South Carolina football: 3 bold predictions for week 2
By Jacob Elsey
Bold predictions for South Carolina football
Gamecocks run for 250+ yards as a team
Kevin Harris is back. ZaQuandre White looked great in week one. Juju McDowell and MarShawn Lloyd are hoping to build on solid opening performances.
The Gamecocks are stacked at running back. Throw in an appearance by Luke Doty and the rushing attack could dominate a young defensive front. Appalachian State had some success last week rushing for 226 yards on 36 carries, an average of 6.3 yards a pop. The Pirates weren’t much better against the run last year, surrendering more than 200 yards and two touchdowns a game to opposing rushing attacks.
If the Gamecocks can have that kind of success on the ground, they could cruise to an easy win.
South Carolina will be happy to welcome Kevin Harris back for his first game of the year after the ball carrier led the conference in rushing a season ago. ZaQuandre White shouldered the load in his absence last weekend, running for 128 yards on 12 carries. That included a 63-yard scamper early in the fourth quarter.
Lloyd and McDowell combined for another 97 yards as the Gamecocks rushed for 254 yards as a team. We think that South Carolina can repeat that performance against the Pirates as they should be able to control the line of scrimmage with a massive offensive front.
Look for South Carolina to lean heavily on their running backs, while also giving quarterback Luke Doty a few opportunities in the run game, too. The Gamecocks will go over 250 yards on the ground for the second straight week, which will help them leave Greenville, NC with a road victory.