South Carolina Gamecocks vs. LSU Tigers Preview and Prediction

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

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Like no other sport, college football provides a landscape of plot twists with dramatic turns leaving the fans on their toes. Another hard-fought thriller is on the way in Baton Rouge come Saturday when the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-2) take on the LSU Tigers (1-2) in an SEC cross-divisional showdown.

Preseason bets in Vegas would have had LSU entering this game as the better team with a winning record. As is, South Carolina has played tougher teams and seeks to rise above .500 on the season with a feather in the cap road win against one of the nation’s top programs. The Will Muschamp guided Gamecocks have always been scrappy, and that reputation lives on falling to then- No. 16 Tennessee (31-27) and No. 3 Florida (38-24) but rebounding for wins over Vanderbilt (41-7) and No. 15 Auburn (30-22). The last time the Gamecocks won three consecutive conference games was in 2017 (Arkansas, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt), can they recapture that magic in 2020?

Whatever offerings given to the football gods for LSU’s perfect 2019 season is being collected in a hurry in 2020. Even with heavy losses to the NFL and from players opting out on the season, the Tigers do not look like the Tigers in key parts of the game, namely running the ball and playing defense. An unscheduled open date last week pushed playing Florida to Dec. 12 allowing LSU the opportunity to heal and improve on executing their schemes. Yet to play a ranked opponent, the Tigers are limping out of the gate with a long way to go to the finish line.

South Carolina vs. LSU

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Spread: LSU -6

When South Carolina Has the Ball

In coordinator Mike Bobo’s first season in Columbia, the Gamecocks are showing improvements, especially scoring the ball, up eight points on average from a year ago posting 30.5 per game. But with an offense that has not statistically changed in moving the ball down the field (371.9/372.5 ypg) how are they doing it? Their defense is putting the offense in position to put up points. Against Auburn, the Gamecocks picked off three Bo Nix passes, two by corner Jaycee Horn, with all three possessions resulting in points on the board.

Auburn statistically outperformed South Carolina offense verses offense. The Tigers held South Carolina to 297 total yards with 153 coming on the ground and 144 by Colorado State quarterback transfer Collin Hill in the passing game. The differences in the game, USC controlled the clock holding onto the ball for 31 minutes, 17 seconds, committed four fewer penalties for 50 less yards lost, kept drives alive on 7-of-13 opportunities, and won the turnover battle (3-1). The Gamecocks also converted on all four red zone appearances and played flawlessly in the kicking game.

The secret sauce to USC’s offense is running back Kevin Harris and receiver Shi Smith. Harris a workhorse tailback netting 5.0 yards per carry capable of wearing down defenses for four quarters. Third in the SEC in rushing yards (409), he is behind only Alabama’s Najee Harris in carries (81) and touchdowns (6). After the loss to Tennessee, Bobo upped Harris’ touches to 20-plus per game getting the desired results with 100-yard performances against Florida (100) and Vanderbilt (171). Smith has big play potential but as Hill’s top target is routinely drawing double-teams limiting his explosive plays. The senior wideout is third in-conference in receptions (34), seventh in yards (347), and tied for seventh in receiving scores (3). Senior tight end Nick Muse can make plays when adequately targeted.

When LSU Has the Ball

The Tigers have been moving the ball up and down the field at a prolific rate averaging 467.3 yards per game while posting 38.7 points in three outings. All that play-making ability is likely lost on Saturday with quarterback Myles Brennan expected to sit this one out. Reports have Brennan with a torn abdominal muscle leaving true freshmen TJ Finley or Max Johnson to run the offense. Finley is the tall-big armed quarterback while Johnson is the more athletic field general capable of running LSU’s zone read plays. With neither quarterback separating themselves in practice from the other, expect both to get their first collegiate snaps against USC.

If LSU cannot count on Brennan to post his 371 yards per game in the aerial attack, a greater reliance will fall on one of the nation’s worst rushing attacks to carry the load. Of the 77 FBS programs that have played so far this season, LSU is ranked 73rd in rush yards (96.7). Tyrion Davis-Price and John Emery Jr. are both barely over the 100-yard rushing mark for the season and have the Tigers’ only two scores on the ground. South Carolina has been strong against the run holding teams to 125 yard per game. Can LSU’s line rise to the occasion?

Had LSU played Florida last week, chances are they may had been without Brennan and their top two targets in Terrace Marshall Jr. and true freshman tight end Arik Gilbert. If Marshall plays, he is one of the SEC’s best with a slash line of 21 receptions for 424 yards tied for the lead in receiving scores (7). Gilbert has been a third down go-to target securing 14 passes for 177 yards with two touchdowns. The Gamecocks are not without their own injury problems, especially on defense. Cornerback Israel Mukuamu (groin), end Aaron Sterling (knee), and linebacker Sherrod Greene (hip) are all questionable for Saturday’s game.

Final Analysis

In a battle of the war-torn teams, this matchup promises to be a tooth-and-nail fight down to the finish. LSU’s inexperienced roster got a lucky break last week when the trip to the Swamp was pushed back. With the added practice time, have the Tigers’ coaching staff set their program up for success?

In any other season, a night game in Death Valley would provide that extra push to help LSU to a victory, but this is 2020. If we know anything about South Carolina, they will fight to the end for Muschamp. The Gamecocks may not be pretty, but going into this one they have more knowns in their corner that add up to a win. LSU’s only hope is one of their true freshmen quarterbacks plays out of their mind or one of their backs has a breakout 200-yard effort controlling the game.

Prediction: South Carolina 28, LSU 21

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Photo credit: WACH; No. 20 South Carolina RB Kevin Harris

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