Tennessee @ South Carolina preview
Williams-Brice Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2009 ) South Carolina 13, Tennessee 31
South Carolina is in unfamiliar territory. It controls its own destiny to its first Southeastern Conference East title. But in order to get there, the Gamecocks first must avoid falling in another trap – one that they’ve fallen in before vs. Tennessee.
After its upset of then-No. 1 Alabama three weeks ago, South Carolina slipped and lost to Kentucky. Now, after a win last week over Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks host a rebuilding Tennessee team that has lost three straight games.
By winning its next two games, the No. 17 Gamecocks, with some help, could have the SEC East locked up before they host Florida on Nov. 13.
Although it struggled for three quarters with Vanderbilt, South Carolina (5-2, 3-2 SEC) shouldn’t have much trouble with Tennessee (2-5, 0-4), which has lost five of its last six games. But to their credit, the Vols have played everybody tough - at least for a half.
Last week, Tennessee trailed Alabama 13-10 before surrendering 28 unanswered points in the second half. The Volunteers haven’t scored more than 14 points during their losing streak and have been outscored 129-55 in SEC games.
The Gamecocks come in averaging nearly 30 points a game, and they’ll get a boost from the return of one of their best players in running back Marcus Lattimore, who sat out last week with an ankle injury. Even without the freshman, South Carolina put up 484 yards of total offense against Vanderbilt and controlled the clock for more than 37 minutes.
Stephen Garcia completed 31 of 39 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns, and that potent passing game could present problems for the young Volunteers. Two receivers, Alshon Jeffery and Tory Gurley, topped 100 yards last week and Garcia has thrown for 737 yards in his last two games. He is completing 72.1 percent of his passes, best in the SEC. Reserve running back Brian Maddox had 146 yards on the ground last week.
Last year, South Carolina appeared better than Tennessee – on paper. But the Volunteers won 31-13 on Halloween and knocked the Gamecocks out of the Top 25. In 2007, the Gamecocks were ranked No. 15 and lost to Tennessee in overtime 27-24, starting the Volunteers’ four-game winning streak to close the season. So South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier surely will not come in overconfident.
Lattimore leads South Carolina with 538 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns - 10 rushing. Jeffery has 49 receptions for 848 yards and six touchdowns.
Tennessee, which is 91st in rushing yards with 121.3 per game, is led by Tauren Poole, who has 595 yards on 109 carries. Matt Simms, who was banged up last week but is expected to play, has thrown for 1,253 yards and seven touchdowns. Receiver Denarius Moore is questionable (head) and cornerback Marsalis Teague (toe) is doubtful.