South Carolina @ Tennessee preview
Neyland Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2016 ) Tennessee 21, South Carolina 24
South Carolina’s defense is coming off an impressive performance and hopes to produce another when it visits struggling Tennessee on Saturday. The Volunteers are trying to avoid an 0-3 start to SEC play, with a trip to top-ranked Alabama looming next week.
The Gamecocks scored a school-record three defensive touchdowns in the second half of a 48-22 home victory over Arkansas last week, and they should be licking their chops at the thought of facing a Tennessee offense that hasn’t scored a touchdown in six quarters. Coach Butch Jones announced redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano will take over as the starting quarterback after Quinten Dormady went 5-of-16 for 64 yards with two interceptions in a 41-0 loss to Georgia in Tennessee's most recent game on Sept. 30. “You’re always looking for what you feel gives you the best opportunity to win the football game,” Jones told reporters. “You need to score points in this conference.” The Vols have dominated the all-time series, but the last five meetings have been decided by three points or fewer.
TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: Tennessee -2.5
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (4-2, 2-2 SEC): The Gamecocks’ defense has taken a big step forward this season, holding all six opponents below their season scoring averages. South Carolina has forced 13 turnovers – tied for the most in the SEC — after recording four takeaways against the Razorbacks. Quarterback Jake Bentley has thrown five touchdown passes and no interceptions over the last two games despite the absence of star receiver Deebo Samuel, but the Gamecocks will need their inconsistent ground game to be effective against the Vols.
ABOUT TENNESSEE (3-2, 0-2): Despite the recent offensive struggles, the team has a solid running back in John Kelly, whose 494 rushing yards are the most by a Tennessee player through five games since Montario Hardesty gained 575 in 2009. Tennessee also possesses the best pass defense in the SEC and the third-best in the nation, allowing just 129.2 yards per game. That’s due at least in part to the fact the Vols have had a tough time stopping the run, as opponents have piled up an average of 252.6 yards on the ground.
EXTRA POINTS
1. South Carolina coach Will Muschamp is 5-0 against Tennessee, including a 4-0 mark while at Florida and a win with the Gamecocks last season.
2. Tennessee P Trevor Daniel ranks second in the nation in punting average (47.3 yards) and leads the SEC with 13 punts inside the 20.
3. Gamecocks TE Hayden Hurst has 75 career receptions and needs four to overtake Danny Smith for the program’s all-time lead at the position.
PREDICTION: South Carolina 27, Tennessee 23