Expect more scoring from South Carolina |
Submitted by Otto Sports
Scoring could be up for the Gamecocks in 2010, a real departure from the norm since Steve Spurrier took over in 2005.
Surprisingly South Carolina’s offense has been second fiddle at USC to some of the (sometimes) smothering defenses the team has fielded. With Spurrier’s reputation and resume one would assume those roles would have been reversed.
Looking over the last five years Spurrier has failed to field a team that would finish the season in the top five in SEC scoring, and just one in the top half of the league. The exact ranks are as follows:
2005: 7th 23.7 ppg
2006: 6th 26.6 ppg
2007: 8th 26.1 ppg
2008: 8th 20.8 ppg
2009: 11th 20.6 ppg
Why then is there a real feeling that this will be a breakout year for USC’s offense?
For starters, literally, the Gamecocks return nearly their entire starting offensive unit from 2009. This is a unit with a now seasoned QB in Stephen Garcia in his third season of action, second as a full time starter. This is a unit with a solid stable of backs with size (Maddox), speed (Giles) and a very highly touted prospect (Marcus Lattimore) who could be the freshman of the year. Garcia has big physical targets to throw to with four receivers standing 6-4 or taller, including star in the making Alshon Jefferson who led the team in TD catches a year ago. And the offensive line has experience and versatility and the hope is they show consistency this year.
The most important factor, however, is their schedule. The early slate looks tailor made to build confidence in this group and to yield some big scores.
The Gamecocks open the season playing Southern Miss, Georgia, Furman and Auburn. In 2009 those defenses ranked 61st, 63rd, 105th (FCS) and 76th in scoring. Their SEC slate alone looks promising; USC opens with the 10th and 12th rated defenses in the conference from last year before a tough test against Alabama. Then it is back to the bottom rung as they face Kentucky (7th), Vanderbilt (8th) and Tennessee (6th).
This is a team that will be on my radar, market permitting, to play over the total in the early going.
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Visitor Comments:
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mjm129 | 07/28/2010 12:01 AM |
This team has 16 starters back, but that ain't good. This team has no heart, no guts, and a coach that doesn't have the pick of the litter anymore in the south. Their past two bowl no shows just exemplify the lack of substance these players are made of. They got a bunch of nba 2 guards at receiver, but no Ike Hilliards. Its not possible to completely lay down in a bowl game on TV and think you have what it takes to be successful in the SEC. I will be in action on the Moneyline fading this bunch in their non-conference sched as I should get plenty of inflated SEC affiliated value, plus the Spurrier factor. They won't win 6 games.
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mjm129 | 07/28/2010 12:09 AM |
Not once did this veteran O-line open up enough holes for the run game to average 4 ypr. in any SEC game and allowed nearly 4 sacks a game in conference. Pretty sure that 1 extra year isn't going to make this already experienced unit good enough to lead the way to success.
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stfu | 07/28/2010 11:15 AM |
Seriously? The team averages 7 wins per season even with the annual second half breakdown so to say they wont win 6 is sheer stupidity. With the baseball team coming off of a national championship the team has more excitement and heart in them than they ever have before. Last year the two tallest receivers could not be on the field at the same time because they both only knew one position. this year they will be a dual threat. and AJ will prove he is one of the best receivers in the league. The georgia game will be the deciding factor. If the gamecocks come out and win that game decisively they will start to believe. if not it will be another year of mediocrity and self pitty.
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mjm129 | 07/28/2010 12:57 PM |
What the hell does their baseball team have to do with he football team? They got auburn, kentucky,vandy, florida, and clemson on the road. Thats 1-4. I don't think they have the mental toughness to sweep S. Miss, Furman, and Troy in non-conf (2-1). Those are quality teams. Alabama and Arkansas are loses at home (0-2). Those weapons mean shit with the QB on his back. Keep dreaming that Spurrier is gonna make you the Florida of the past. He has the same problem Mickey Andrews had at FSU. He only knows 1 way. Game has passed him by
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stfu | 07/28/2010 1:09 PM |
Kentucky has not beat south carolina in 10 years and has never beaten spurrier, vandy did not win a game in the sec last year and will not be any better this year, we beat clemson last year with spiller and jacoby ford. at the most we lose to auburn and florida so thats 3-2 there is no way we lose to s miss furman or troy 3-0. tennessee is falling apart and georgia will still be breaking in their qb but ill give it a 1-1 for arguments sake. so thats at least 7 totally blowing your wont win 6 theory. alabama i will say definitely a loss same with florida god knows the gamecocks cant do that at the swamp. otherwise the gamecocks have a legitimate chance to win every other game. the line had good moments (however few) and we have they have the best running back recruit in the nation to keep the blitzers back and keep garcia on his feet. Im not saying sec here we come but 7 wins will be easy
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mjm129 | 07/28/2010 1:39 PM |
I'll promise you this. If a freshman is sitting back their in the backfield, Defensive Coordinators will test how well that rook handles pass pro all night long. If he's as good without the ball (picking up blitzing backers and SS) as he supposedly is with it, then the offense may be better. Don't forget, UT had a #1 RB recruit last year and he made a minimal impact. This is the SEC. Your a bit optimistic of them on the road considering they were 1-5 away from home last year with 4 loses by at least 13 points. Lone road win, 7-3 at NC State? Come on now homer
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mjm129 | 07/28/2010 1:43 PM |
Holy shit, you guys are just 26-20 all-time vs Furman?
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mjm129 | 07/28/2010 1:46 PM |
You beat UK and Vandy by 2 and 4 last year at home? Watch out, here come the Gamecocks.
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stfu | 07/28/2010 2:16 PM |
Look being a gamecock fan isnt easy. yes 26-20 against furman bc the gamecock football program has been a disaster for most of its existance including a 22 game losing streak that i think only duke has topped. with this a gamecock has responsibiltiy (unshakable confidence before the season and the ablilty to shrug it off and wait till next year at the end) That being said, the defense is too tough and the offense has too many weapons to not make a little noise. the biggest problem last year was garcia forgetting that running forward gets first downs not running backwards. Every year the gamecocks both win a game they arent supposed to and lose a game they arent supposed to. as far as kentucky and vandy a win is a win like you said spurrier hasnt got the fun and gun abilities anymore. our defense had to win every game. I will guarantee a 7 win season at the least. The away games include kentucky vanderbilt and clemson so yes when it comes to sec we are better then those two and an acc school. 1-5 last year was every tough game of ours being on the road. georgia, tennessee, arkansas and alabama. not the case this year. auburn and florida are the only ones of concern. as far as home games if we dont upset anybody then we lose georgia, arkansas and alabama. that makes us 7-5. still insufferable mediocrity but thats only if we dont make noise this year.
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stfu | 07/28/2010 2:24 PM |
Look being a gamecock fan isnt easy. yes 26-20 against furman bc the gamecock football program has been a disaster for most of its existance including a 22 game losing streak that i think only duke has topped. with this a gamecock has responsibiltiy (unshakable confidence before the season and the ablilty to shrug it off and wait till next year at the end) That being said, the defense is too tough and the offense has too many weapons to not make a little noise. the biggest problem last year was garcia forgetting that running forward gets first downs not running backwards. Every year the gamecocks both win a game they arent supposed to and lose a game they arent supposed to. as far as kentucky and vandy a win is a win like you said spurrier hasnt got the fun and gun abilities anymore. our defense had to win every game. I will guarantee a 7 win season at the least. The away games include kentucky vanderbilt and clemson so yes when it comes to sec we are better then those two and an acc school. 1-5 last year was every tough game of ours being on the road. georgia, tennessee, arkansas and alabama. not the case this year. auburn and florida are the only ones of concern. as far as home games if we dont upset anybody then we lose georgia, arkansas and alabama. that makes us 7-5. still insufferable mediocrity but thats only if we dont make noise this year.
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Ian Cameron | 08/05/2010 6:47 AM |
OVER 46.5 for the opening game against Southern Miss. Is that a good enough number in your opinion Marty to consider the OVER in that game?
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Ian Cameron | 08/05/2010 6:50 AM |
OVER 46.5 for the opening game against Southern Miss. Is that a good enough number in your opinion Marty to consider the OVER in that game?
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