Navy @ South Carolina preview

THE STORY: Two impressive offenses will square off Saturday in Columbia, S.C., as No. 11 South Carolina hosts Navy in its home opener at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks, tied for fourth in the nation with 50.5 points per game, are looking to win their home opener for the fifth consecutive season. South Carolina boasts its highest ranking since it was ranked sixth in Oct. 2007. Navy, which leads the nation in rushing at 400.5 yards per game, hasn't beaten a ranked team since upsetting Notre Dame in 2009. The Midshipmen haven't beaten an opponent ranked higher than the 11th-ranked Gamecocks since knocking off No. 2 South Carolina in 1984. South Carolina leads the all-time series 4-3 and has won four of five meetings in Columbia, including the most recent one, a 19-8 victory in 1988.

TV: ESPN2. LINE: South Carolina-17

ABOUT NAVY (2-0): The Midshipmen are 2-0 for the first time since 2006 after scoring 40 points in each of their first two games, lopsided wins against Delaware and Western Kentucky. It marks the first time Navy has topped 40 points in consecutive games since 2007. Senior QB Kriss Proctor leads the option attack with 199 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and senior RB Alexander Teich has added 167 yards rushing. Navy last played an SEC school in 2004, when it knocked off Jay Cutler and Vanderbilt, 29-26.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (2-0): The Gamecocks are trying to start 3-0 for the third time in seven seasons under coach Steve Spurrier. The Gamecocks had to rally late against the Bulldogs despite standout performances on both sides of the ball. Sophomore RB Marcus Lattimore posted the sixth 100-yard rushing game of his career with 176 yards on 27 carries, and senior QB Stephen Garcia became the third player in school history to pass for more than 7,000 yards. He ranks sixth among active FBS quarterbacks with 7,005 career passing yards. Senior defensive end Melvin Ingram was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Georgia. Ingram scored on a 68-yard run on a fake punt and returned a fumble for a 5-yard touchdown. Antonio Allen returned an interception 25 yards for a score, giving him a touchdown in three consecutive regular-season games dating to last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Spurrier is 42-0 against schools outside the BCS automatic qualifying conferences, including a 16-0 mark against non-BCS schools since taking over at South Carolina.

2. Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo's 29 win in three-plus seasons are the most by a Navy coach in his first four years.

3. Ingram became only the third FBS player since 2006 to score a touchdown on offense and defense in the same game.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 37, Navy 20 — The Midshipmen are too one-dimensional on offense to keep pace with the explosive Gamecocks.