South Carolina Football Predictions 2010

A promising 5-1 start, which easily could have been 6-0, quickly went south when the South Carolina Gamecocks lost four of their last six regular season games, and then their bowl game with Connecticut, to finish the 2009 season 7-6. Despite boasting one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC statistically, South Carolina was plagued by an offense that only averaged 20.6 points per game (11th SEC). An offensive line that gave up the most sacks in the league, and struggled to open holes in the running game, was the biggest reason for the Gamecocks’ struggles. While legendary head coach Steve Spurrier is yet to capture an SEC championship at South Carolina, there is reason to believe that this could be the year. SEC East rivals Florida, Georgia and Tennessee must all break in new quarterbacks, and it’s never easy to make the jump to starter in a league as talented as the SEC.

Offense: Spurrier decided it was time he started calling the plays late last season, and he plans on doing so again in 2010. Hopefully, the Ol’ Ball Coach can find a few plays in the ol’ play book to get the South Carolina offense in the end zone more often. How good the offense will be, and ultimately how good the team will be, depends on the offensive line. The good news is there is talent up front. Tackle Jarriel King is even being projected as a high NFL Draft pick. But individual talent doesn’t mean anything if the boys up front don’t come together as a unit. Quarterback Stephen Garcia was the second-leading passer in the SEC in 2009 despite facing constant pressure. He threw for 2,862 yards and 17 scores with 10 interceptions. If he gets the time to throw, he could really shatter those numbers. Alshon Jeffery enters the season as Garcia’s top returning target. He caught 46 passes for 763 yards and six touchdowns in 2009. Another thing that would make Garcia’s life easier is a running game. The Gamecocks have finished at the bottom of the SEC the last three years in rushing offense, and that needs to change in 2010. Kenny Miles is the team’s top returning rusher on the strength of a 626-yard season, but there is a lot of hype being thrown in the direction of freshman Marcus Lattimore.

Defense: South Carolina returns seven starts on a unit that finished No. 3 in the SEC in total defense. This means that S.C. should once again boast one of the better stop units in the league. In 2009, the Gamecocks were solid against the run (No. 5 SEC) and downright stingy against the pass (No. 2 SEC). With a strong pass rush and experience across the back, the Gamecocks will excel in pass coverage once again. End Cliff Matthews and now outside linebacker Shaq Wilson will apply most of the heat. Matthews is a high-energy guy who is never outworked. He will look to improve on the seven sacks he recorded last year. Wilson was valuable as a middle linebacker, but the Gamecocks need him to move outside to fill the big shoes of Eric Norwood.

Prediction: 3rd SEC East – While there is certainly a chance South Carolina could find a way to win the East, conventional wisdom tells me not to count the chickens before they hatch. The Gamecocks have averaged only seven wins per season under Spurrier, and they haven’t posted a winning mark in SEC play since 2005. Make sure you check out how I have the rest of the league shaping up in my 2010 SEC football predictions.

Beat the college football odds all season long with the help of world champion handicapper Jimmy Boyd!

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