5 Keys to a Win at UNC

The SC Gamecocks head north this week to a "battle for the border" contest with Univ. of North Carolina. LOHD spoke about this game earlier here. Now, we would like to shine some light on what the Gamecocks must do to win at UNC. Currently, the spread is +7 USC. I think we will cover that but we must do the following:

1. Smelley must be on 'q'--- USC quarterback Chris Smelley has a 3-0 record as a starter and a firm grip on the starting job. Smelley has completed 48 of 93 passes for 709 yards and five touchdowns, with two interceptions, since replacing Blake Mitchell in the second half at LSU on Sept. 22. He was 6-of-6 passing for 102 yards in the fourth quarter against Kentucky. He must continue to be productive and get the ball in the hands of the play makers.

2. SC Special Teams --- This unit must not give up anything big to UNC and win the field position battle. I have faith in Succop but the UNC special teams unit is quick and helped to win the game against Miami last week...we must not let our unit be the blame for a lose.

3. SC Defense must continue the trend --- When you are the best (vs. the pass) you must continue to shine. The Gamecock D must continue to play excellent against the pass and must man up on the run. We need to shut down their running game but not give up anything deep. UNC has speed and speed kills so knock down the passes and we must tackle. Norwood and Co upfront must get in the UNC qb's face all game.

4. Boyd / Davis must run run run --- These two must get involved in the game and put up high rushing yards to allow our offense to work. They have to create and let the o-line make some holes....this will allow Smelley to pass with success.

5. Gamecock TE play --- Saunders/Cook/Boyd are emerging as great receivers and have been targeted a lot, which must continue since McKinley is being covered badly...need a WR/TE to step up this game.

My Prediction --- USC 34 UNC 17

To win the SEC East...

USC WILL WIN THE SEC EAST IF IT ...

Gets stronger vs. the run: In consecutive weeks, the Gamecocks will face a Heisman Trophy candidate on the nation’s top rushing team (Arkansas’ Darren McFadden) and one of the country’s top running quarterbacks (Florida’s Tim Tebow).

Must find another receiver: While tight ends Jared Cook and Weslye Saunders have taken part of the load off McKinley, Arkansas has a history of doubling the Gamecocks’ No. 1 receiver. USC needs a big-play threat to emerge.

Gotta Beat Florida: Spurrier seems to have his alma mater’s number. He ended USC’s 66-year drought against Florida in 2005 and lost by a point to the eventual national-champion Gators last year on a blocked field goal as time expired. Knocking off Florida at home Nov. 10 could punch the Gamecocks’ ticket to Atlanta.

Bowl Projections

Looking at the blog over at The Dead Guy's SEC site, he posted about newly released bowl projections which I share with you below. I recommend his site and also recommend you look at the bowl projections for South Carolina below....interesting and would love to hear your thoughts.

Here's the Bowl Predictions from:
ESPN
CBS Sportsline
Fox Sports

Things to say to your Clemson Co-Workers

Some of you may have seen this come through your email box recently and we try to steer away from posting stuff like that on the site but this was too good to pass up.

Below are lines to use today in talking about Clemson Football with your co-workers:

-"Hey look at the bright side, you guys have two weeks to prepare for Central Michigan."

-"You know take away all three of VT's defensive and special teams touchdowns you guys win like 50-3, at least according to Bowden."

-"Hey I didn't get to see your game last week but I did watch the Tommy Bowden show, congrats on the 23-0 win."

-"Notre Dame had more rushing yards than Davis/Spiller did last weekend."

-"Hey at least your kicker was perfect on FG's last weekend."

-"Just curious, does this put you guys completely out of the national championship picture?"

-"I see where Bowden compared himself to Mark Richt and Mack Brown, that's gotta make you feel some better that he's on par with those guys eh?"

-"Weren't you guys favored to win your last two games?"

-"Hey look at the bright side, you were 1 point away from winning the ACC championship last year according to Tommy Bowden"

-"Look at the bright side, you guys will not lose this weekend."

-"Seems like again Tommy blew the season...doesn't this happen every year?"

Cheers to the Gamecocks...

If you told me that USC would be at the top of the SEC East standings at the midway point of the season despite losing its top defensive player to a season-ending injury, benching its fifth-year quarterback and creating a new identity on offense to offset a downfield passing attack that has been stagnant until recent weeks....I say you were crazy....but I am lovin' it.

USC is 3-1 in the league with wins over East foes Georgia and Kentucky. And should be 4-1 in two weeks after beating Vanderbilt -- and 7-1 overall after whipping the struggling Tar Heels as they head to Knoxville. I know one game at a time....

USC's toughest SEC games -- at UT, at Arkansas and Florida at home -- are still ahead of the Gamecocks. But USC is atop the East at the midway point of the regular season, and that says something about the team and Spurrier.

Spurrier was quoted in the Greenville News in saying this -“We’re trying to win the division, I don’t know if we can do it, but we’re going to try our best. If we can improve quite a bit along the way, we feel like we have a chance.”

I am proud of the Gamecocks at this point of the season and they are sitting exactly where I thought. As long as Spurrier is telling the media there is a chance, I like the odds.

Don't cry Tebow

Did any of you see this story about the LSU fans finding out Tebow's phone number and prank calling him. The rumor is, his ex-girlfriend gave out the number on a message board to get back at him. Also students made shirts that had his phone number on them? How funny is that? I think Tebow has learned two valuable lessons, don't mess with a angry ex-girlfriend, and stay away from the state of Louisiana.

Dopn'

This is for JR- Newest Panther

Once again Kirk Herbstreit has us on his upset alert, saying that UNC has the momentum going into the game on Saturday. He has not given USC much credit this year saying that MSU was going upset USC a couple weeks ago. I guess he has to make it his weekly pick since he is a Clemson homer now.

Back in the Day

We all now the story about Spurrier running the score up on UNC back in the day. This seems to still be a pretty touchy subject to Tar Heel fans who can not forget about what happened 18 years ago. I am sure we will hear about it at least 20 times during the game. I found this picture in the charlotte observer, look at Spurrier?

Jasper to return next year

In his first public comments since being hurt and undergoing surgery, Jasper Brinkley said he's "pretty positive" he will return next season. Brinkley said he would "probably" ask the NFL undergraduate advisory committee where it projected him in the draft, as he did after the 2006 season. Brinkley, an All-Southeastern Conference player last year and a preseason All-SEC pick this season, said he wants to come back to show the NFL scouts what he can really do.

Sounds great to me and it would be great to have Jasper anchoring the middle of the D next year!

Gamecocks Head North

USC travels to Chapel Hill, N.C., this coming Saturday to take on North Carolina (2-4), which is under the leadership of a proven coach and that is Butch Davis. This the first meeting between USC and UNC since 1991.

A week ago, the Tar Heels looked like they wouldn’t offer much of a challenge for USC. But that was before UNC (2-4) stunned Miami 33-27 to give first-year coach Butch Davis his first Atlantic Coast Conference victory.

Seems to be a little "media stirring" going on trying to create some buzz around the match up. Spurrier was 3-0 against the Tar Heels before leaving Duke for Florida.

Remember, Spurrier was an assistant at Duke for three years and then head coach from 1987 to 1989. The Blue Devils ended the 1989 regular season by beating UNC 41-0 to win the ACC title. Afterward, Spurrier led the Blue Devils back on the field for a photograph under the scoreboard to commemorate the moment. Story goes that UNC coach Mack Brown wasn’t happy about the photo. Spurrier said he didn’t know why Brown was mad, adding, “I’ve won more games on that field than he has.”

Yeah, that is not playing nice but at the time it was sort of true but what I don't get is the Spurrier history at Duke really does not mean much to the USC game. Then again it is going to be used to make the UNC team and fanbase pissed. I still think it is making a lot out of nothing....what do you think?

Spurrier gets his wish - USC approves changes to admissions policy

The University of South Carolina has come up with a policy on special admits designed to streamline a process that head football coach Steve Spurrier lashed out at in early August after two recruits weren't admitted despite meeting NCAA standards.

The changes were approved last week by USC President Andrew Sorensen, Provost Mark Becker said today. USC has annually allowed up to 100 special admits -- students with special talents, including athletes but also musicians and others in the arts, who don't meet its general admission standards.

This is great news and will send a signal out to possible recruits that USC means business when it comes to football and I know it brings up the argument that academics should be more important to a university but let's be realists here....it is the south, it is the SEC, it is college football, it is a multi-million dollar business, it is USC and we need to string together many years of winning, the prior system hurt us, but most important is - it is Spurrier and as long as he is Coach of the Gamecocks the University will do all it can to give him want it wants to keep him happy....thoughts?

FULL ARTICLE -- HERE.

Vandy time set

USC just released the time for the SC vs. Vandy Game. 12:30 on Pay Per view

As the Purple world turns

As the Clemson Tiger season hits a downward spiral, the rumors have already started as who will take over next season as there coach. I have heard names like Skip Holtz, Houston Nutt, Les Miles and even our very own Head Ball Coach. If anybody has any inside info about who will take over Clemson Tech next year I would love to hear it.

USC vs. UNC --- Looking at the Stats

USC remains No. 1 in the nation against the pass, allowing 126.5 yards, but 99th out of 119 Division I teams against the run, surrendering 193.8 yards.

The Gamecocks are #16 in scoring defense, giving up 16.8 points a game.

UNC ranks 102nd in rushing offense (104.2 yards), 55th in passing (232.5) and 94th in total offense (336.7) while scoring 23.5 points, 84th nationally.

The Tar Heels rank 50th in total defense (358.3) and 57th in scoring defense (25.2 points).

Based on the above, what is your prediction for the game?

Gamecock Players named SEC Players of the Week

For Week 6 of the college football season it is good to see two South Carolina Football Players making the list annouced today by SECsports.com and the SEC. This is the second time Smelley has been on the list. Below are the reasons and info as cited by the SEC.

SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
CHRIS SMELLEY
Quarterback

• Making just the third start of his career, Smelley completed 17-of-30 passes for 256 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in South Carolina's 38-23 win against Kentucky.
• Smelley directed two fourth quarter scoring drives that helped secure the victory for the Gamecocks. Both drives ended on Smelley TD passes.
• For the season, Smelley has completed 58-of-107 passes for 810 yards with six TDs and three interceptions.

SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ERIC NORWOOD
Defensive End

• Norwood returned two fumbles for touchdowns and also registered five solo tackles in South Carolina's 38-23 win against Kentucky.
• Norwood became just the fourth player in NCAA Division I history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in a single game.
• In addition to his five total tackles, Norwood had one tackle for a loss, two pass deflections and a quarterback pressure.
• South Carolina's defense forced four Kentucky turnovers in the game.

Also SC Corner CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN was recognized for his performance last week as he -Logged seven total tackles with an interception and fumble recovery against Kentucky.

Gamecocks in Top 10...

Talk about crazy....Not only is the University of South Carolina leading the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division, but the Gamecocks have climbed in the top 10.

The South Carolina Gamecocks moved up to No. 7 in the country in the Associated Press media poll released today. The Gamecocks are No. 12 in the USA Today coaches poll.

It is the first time USC has been ranked in the top 10 since Oct. 7, 2001, when the Gamecocks were No. 9 after a 42-6 victory over Kentucky.

It is also the highest ranking for USC since the Gamecocks were seventh heading into the 1984 Gator Bowl against Oklahoma State (which they lost 21-14).

I can not believe that USC is ranked higher than USC in the AP poll. Yes, that is right - the Univ of South Carolina is ranked higher in the AP that the Univ of Southern Cal. I know, I too, had to take a double take on that one and rub my eyes to make sure I was seeing it correctly. South Carolina is getting a lot of love in the AP poll...ranked higher than Florida too....wow.

Do you guys agree with the rankings?? I just hope it does not go to the heads of the South Carolina football team.

Complete Polls -- HERE