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| {photo via Gamecocks Online on Facebook} |
After last week’s passing explosion by the Gamecocks, we all wait with great anticipation to see if it was a fluke or the future of Carolina football. This week’s match-up is one that many will easily overlook, but with many transplant coaches from Arkansas, this is definitely not an automatic win for USC. As we all know the Razorbacks are what nightmares are made of for Gamecock fans, so the Blazers absolutely have the potential for a huge upset.
A couple of Gamecocks could enter the record books this weekend and be forever cemented in the history books at Carolina. With a win, Steve Spurrier will reach 200 collegiate wins as a coach. While he has spent the week downplaying this milestone to every college football fan with any knowledge of the game, we still realize and appreciate all that has gone into this.
Marcus Lattimore is already in the history books at Carolina, but he can take the top spot for number of rushing touchdowns in a career on his next rushing touchdown. For those of you wondering, yes he will overtake Heisman winner George Rogers on his next rushing touchdown. Hopefully this is a good foreshadowing of the future for Lattimore and the Gamecocks.
Reasons UAB Could Win
With several coaches from the very dangerous Arkansas teams of the past few years, there is not arguing that the UAB Blazers are well coached. This coaching staff will have their team primed and ready to go at Williams-Brice on Saturday night. The Blazers are also coming off a bye week, so they have had two full weeks of practice to prepare for the Gamecocks who are still missing some key players especially on defense. In their first and only game so far this season UAB had 459 total yards of offense so they are very capable of moving the ball and scoring points. The Gamecock defense will have to stay on their toes to keep the Blazers offense in check.
Reasons USC Could Win
After last week’s showing I feel that regardless of whom Carolina goes with at quarterback, whether it’s Dylan Thompson or Connor Shaw, the offense will still be more than capable of scoring points. With a healthy Marcus Lattimore in the backfield, hopefully the offensive line will continue to improve and create some running lanes for the tailback. While it appears Thompson may again get the start to insure Shaw will be healthy for Missouri next week, I have a feeling we may see a little of both quarterbacks. If this is the case, Carolina has the potential to put up a second week in a row of 40+ points.
Again the defense will need to stand strong and force three and outs to keep the Blazers from moving the ball efficiently into the red zone. Despite suffering an injury in last week’s blowout, it appears Jadeveon Clowney will be ready to go for kick-off Saturday night in front of the home crowd.
In the end…
USC will pull out the win, but it will not be quiet the devastating blow that ECU suffered last week. With the time UAB has had to prepare for the Gamecocks it should be a much closer game than many expect, but still a solid win for Carolina heading into the bulk of their SEC schedule...starting with Missouri next week.
KEY TO THE GAME
UAB: Offense must move the ball and convert on every opportunity to stay in the game.
USC: The offense must continue scoring points at a high rate, and the defense must stay focused on the task at hand instead of looking ahead to next week’s match-up.
FINAL SCORE: USC 32, UAB 20
Post written by Gamecock Girl Sports Bloggess Lauren Hall.
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