South Carolina is 101st in the country and 11th in the SEC in scoring offense with a 20.64 points per game. USC is 75th in the country and ninth in their conference in total offense by averaging 356.64 yards per game. To win this game it will take more than 20 points for Carolina.
The gamecocks must spread the ball around and that means the Gamecocks must establish the run.
South Carolina is 97th in the country and last in the SEC in rushing offense with 116.09 yards per game. Kenny Miles (5-9, 183, Fr) leads the team in rushing with 488 yards on 94 carries with one touchdown. Jarvis Giles (5-11, 183, Fr) has 52 carries for 277 yards and a touchdown. Brian Maddox (5-11, 224, Jr) has 82 carries for 261 yards and four touchdowns. Please 1 of you 3 step up and hit the holes....
Gamecocks must play “pitch and catch” today and move the ball effectively as we all know a good offense is sometimes the best defense.
Stephen Garcia (6-2, 219, So) has had a very good season under center. He has completed 213 of 373 passes for 2,607 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also has 91 carries for 84 yards and four touchdowns. The Gamecocks are 40th in the nation and second in the SEC in passing offense with 240.55 yards per game. Alshon Jeffrey (6-3, 217, Fr) is the leading receiver with 39 receptions for 670 yards and six touchdowns. Moe Brown (6-0, 183, Sr) has 31 catches for 454 yards and three touchdowns. Tori Gurley (6-5, 227, Fr) has 26 receptions for 376 yards and a touchdown. Jason Barnes (6-4, 199, So) has 24 catches for 266 yards. Tight end Wesley Saunders (6-5, 280, Jr) has 28 receptions for 350 yards and a touchdown.
Look for Clemson and the Kevin Steele D to play “lights out” and try to get to Garcia. Clemson enters that game allowing 18.2 pts per game and only 297 yards per game (170 passing, 127 rushing).
What worries me the most for the USC offense versus the Clemson D is the Gamecocks offensive line. USC is 109th in the nation and last in the SEC in sacks allowed giving up 3.0 sacks per game. Garcia can not allow the pressure to disrupt him as he needs time to throw and make good passes. South Carolina must do a better job of protecting the quarterback against a Clemson defense that leads the ACC in sacks.
My other concern is Garcia and his ability here lately to throw INTs. Garcia threw only two interceptions in his first five games. But Garcia has thrown four in his last three games, including two against Florida in his last game. Clemson is No. 1 in the ACC in turnover ratio and has 20 interceptions….eh scary.
The Gamecocks offense must establish the run early, try the Cocky formation with Gilmore and other trick plays…heck do all you can to keep Clemson guessing. The main thing is the offensive line must play their best game for the Gamecocks to win this game.
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