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.