Final thoughts, prediction as South Carolina takes on Florida in crucial SEC tilt
South Carolina is lurking, even if it may not feel that way.
Thirty-point routs at Texas A&M will do that. But just beneath the surface, somehow, some way, South Carolina has a legitimate shot at bowl eligibility in 2021.
That path now collides with Florida (4-4, 2-4 SEC) on Saturday in Columbia.
The Florida series hasn’t exactly been kind to South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 9-29-3 against the Gators all-time and have lost five of the last six meetings.
But Saturday is a new day. Shane Beamer faces off against Dan Mullen and a Florida squad that’s been embroiled in a public relations snafu throughout the week. Couple that with a Gators squad that’s sitting at .500 two years removed from an 11-win season and is heading for its worst recruiting rankings finish since 2015, and things are a little overcast in the Sunshine State.
South Carolina enters the week with a perplexing mix of thrilling wins and head-scratching performances all rolled into one. USC was run off the field in College Station, Texas two weeks ago by a Texas A&M team that seems to have found its stride.
That night in Aggieland was also another chapter in what’s been a dismal year for offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s unit, as the Gamecocks had only 15 total yards entering the fourth quarter.
With a much-needed bye week in tow, Beamer said he and his staff spent time self-scouting during the break. It was an opportunity to take a renewed look at how the program has operated, what could be adjusted offensively and kick things into high gear for the season’s final month.
That said, some things seem to never change in Columbia — like the revolving door at quarterback. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The State Friday afternoon that Jason Brown will make his first start of the season on Saturday against the Gators. Matt Zenitz of On3.com first reported the news.
Zeb Noland underwent a procedure to address a torn meniscus in his right knee during the off week. Beamer and his staff were, at the time, hopeful he could return for the Florida game. Noland practiced this week, but it appears he won’t be healthy enough to play this weekend.
All eyes now turn to Brown — South Carolina’s third-string quarterback and message board Heisman candidate. Given all the chatter around Brown this season, you’d think he was a five-star freshman headed for an NFL future. In reality, he’s completed 12 of his 20 pass attempts for 129 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions this year after transferring from FCS school St. Francis (Pennsylvania).
While South Carolina figures out its situation under center, defensive coordinator Clayton White is tasked with slowing a Florida rushing attack that — for all the issues the Gators have had — has motored right along. Quarterbacks Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson are both legitimate options in the ground game. Florida’s three-headed tailback trio of Dameon Pierce, Malik Davis and Nay’Quan Wright have also combined for 880 yards on 165 touches.
First-team All-American candidate Jaylan Foster and the South Carolina secondary could have their hands full, too, with former five-star recruit Justin Shorter and leading pass-catcher Jacob Copeland at receiver.
South Carolina-Florida always has a special tinge of rivalry to it given the history between the two schools and the man who led them both to incredible highs in former coach Steve Spurrier. Beamer told reporters this week he hadn’t spoken with Spurrier of late, but he anticipated he’d be at the game on Saturday.
The Gamecocks, to their credit, have done a nice job hanging around this season. Wins over East Carolina and Vanderbilt were nail-biters, but they came out on top. Losses against Kentucky and Tennessee hurt at differing levels, but USC has largely taken care of business when it needed to.
South Carolina has beaten a ranked opponent in three of the last five seasons. And though Florida isn’t ranked heading into the weekend, the talent gap is real.
Beamer and his crew had a week to figure things out offensively. But a quarterback change, an anemic offense and a defense that has been mostly great but struggles against the run makes for a really bad matchup this weekend.
Natural selection suggests a Gator would win a fight over a Gamecock. That should play out on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday.
Make it six of seven for Florida against South Carolina as Dan Mullen’s seat will get just a bit cooler on Saturday in Columbia.
— Prediction: Florida 35, South Carolina 13 —
This story was originally published November 6, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Final thoughts, prediction as South Carolina takes on Florida in crucial SEC tilt."
