SEC College Football Preview: No. 10 South Carolina versus No. 8 Arkansas

This may not be the college football game of the weekend or the best game the SEC has to offer this week but the eighth ranked Arkansas Razorbacks versus the tenth ranked South Carolina Gamecocks should prove to be an exciting game between two very similar teams.

The Razorbacks take on their fourth ranked team in the past six games and second top-10 team of the season when the Gamecocks visit Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday. Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino hopes playing at home will spark his talented team into playing a complete game against a revenge minded team.

In 2010 Arkansas jumped out to an early 24-10 lead and cruised to a 41-20 win at Williams-Brice Stadium. Absent from last year’s winning team are Ryan Mallett’s 303-yards passing with one score to the NFL and Knile Davis’110-rushing yards and three touchdowns, out with an ankle injury.

The Gamecocks will also be without last year’s starting quarterback Stephen Garcia, dismissed from the team in week seven for violating team rules, and running back Marcus Lattimore, injured ACL.

Garcia threw for 161 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions against the Hogs in 2010. Lattimore was held to 30 rushing yards on 11 attempts before Spurrier took him out of the game in the third quarter.

The 2011 starting quarterbacks for both squads made an appearance in last year’s game. Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson was sacked on his only passing attempt and the Gamecock’s Connor Shaw completed two passes for 20 yards in mop-up duty.

Based off preseason predictions both teams have struggled to meet expectations offensively and defensively this season despite their current rankings.

In four of their past five games the Hogs have overcome double digits deficits before rallying to win. Included in those wins were sub-par performances against Ole Miss and Vanderbilt in their past two games.

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has had to overcome one difficult situation after another this season. Connor Shaw started the season under center for the Gamecocks only to be replaced by troubled senior Stephen Garcia in the second quarter of their first game. Garcia was dismissed from the team in week seven of the season for violation of team rules.

Shaw replaced Garcia as starting quarterback after his dismissal. Shaw was to count on the production of All-SEC running back Marcus Lattimore only to lose him at the end of that same week to an ACL injury suffered against Mississippi State.

Arkansas has not been without injuries as well. Both starting defensive ends and cornerbacks have missed significant game time as has their top wide receiver over the past two years, Greg Childs.

South Carolina had a bye week to prepare true freshman running back Brandon Wilds (Blythewood, South Carolina) for their first game without Lattimore. Wilds responded with 135 yards rushing on 28 attempts in a sluggish win over the Vols. Wilds also caught three passes for 31 yards.

Before his breakout performance against Tennessee, Wilds highest rushing totals had come against Kentucky when he rushed five times for 45 yards.

Connor Shaw has been inconsistent as the Gamecock starting quarterback. He threw for 311 yards against Kentucky but has regressed since then. Against MSU he threw for 155 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. On the road against Tennessee he finished with 87 passing yards on 10 of 18 passing attempts.

The Hogs running game made a brief appearance for two games but took a big step back against the Commodores last week. Dennis Johnson was held to 52 yards rushing on nine attempts and was benched after fumbling the ball for the second straight game. Arkansas finished with 72-net rushing yards after quarterback Tyler Wilson was sacked three times for a loss of 21-yards.

Through shaky offenses, injuries, and poor defensive performances both teams are fighting for an opportunity to remain in contention for a SEC Conference Title Game appearance and a possible BCS bowl berth.

Much like last year both teams enter the game with identical 7-1 records; in 2010 their records were 6-2 at the time of the game. South Carolina leads the SEC East while Arkansas can only hope LSU beats Alabama and they can beat LSU for an outside shot of representing the SEC West in the title game. 

Inside the Game

South Carolina’s defense will get their first true test of the season against the Razorbacks. The Gamecocks defense has the sixth rated total defense in FBS but the Hogs have the ninth best passing attack in the nation.

Weakness on weakness pits Arkansas’ running game and USC’s rush defense. Can the Hogs take advantage? USC is allowing 130.25 rushing yards per game. If the Hogs can hit that total that may be all Tyler Wilson needs to control the game with his arm.

The Razorbacks allowed two inferior opponents, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, to rack up 151 rushing yards and 222 yards respectively. The Hogs have to like that a true freshman, Wilds, is handling the ball for the Gamecocks. They have to hate that Wilds ran for 135 in his first game as a starter against Tennessee. They can hope that the 28 carries he had last week wore him down some.

South Carolina averages 202 rushing yards per game but that was with Marcus Lattimore. Can they keep that pace up?

USC has the third best pass defense in the nation limiting teams to 135.88 passing yards per game. Is this statistic telling of their defense or a product of the offensive systems they have encountered?

Of the eight teams the Gamecocks have played only two of those teams featured throwing quarterbacks; East Carolina’s Dominique Davis and Georgia’s Aaron Murray. Davis threw for 260 yards and 248 for Murray. The telling statistic is both quarterbacks threw for four touchdowns against the Gamecocks.

South Carolina has not played a ranked team at the time of their game this season. Georgia and Auburn are both currently ranked. The Gamecocks strength of schedule is tied for 68th in the nation.

Connor Shaw threw for 87 yards against Tennessee and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was held to three catches for 17 total yards.

Arkansas has made their last two opposing quarterbacks (Randall Mackey, Ole Miss, and Jordan Rodgers) look like world beaters. Shaw showed his ability to run against the Vols gaining 64 yards on 16 attempts, much like what the Razorbacks faced in Vanderbilt’s Jordan Rodgers last week.

Prediction

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino has to be excited that he has made it through the most difficult part of his schedule to return home 7-1 for a three-game home stand.

Spurrier has to hate that his young team is Arkansas’ homecoming game.

The Razorbacks have been uninspired over their past two games but gain a spring in their step being home for a night game.

Final Score

Hogs 28, South Carolina 17

What would you like to clarify? Don't forget to sign up for email notifications and as a reader/follower.
Follow HogManInLA on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/HogManInLa

SEC College Football Upset of the Week: Kentucky versus No. 18 South Carolina

How could anyone possibly think Kentucky’s inept offense could beat the immensely talented South Carolina Gamecocks? Quarterback play; even if it is Morgan Newton that Kentucky is relying on.

Second year head coach Joker Philips has been searching for his team’s offense for the last five weeks. Offensively they rank 118th out of 120 teams nationally in total offense (255.60 yards per game). Their scoring offense ranks 113th averaging 15 points per game (9 touchdowns, 9 extra points, 4 field goals). They are even poor on third down conversions averaging a 27 percent success rate (20 out of 74).

First year starting quarterback Morgan Newton, a junior, has been given the majority of the blame for the lack of offense. He has been sacked an SEC worst 17 times. His six interceptions are tied for the SEC lead with Georgia’s Aaron Murray and Ole Miss’ Zack Stoudt. Newton’s 50 percent completion percentage is an SEC worse as well.

Through all of the bad Kentucky still has a starting quarterback that they know they can rely on game in and game out; good or bad. After five games South Carolina is still in search of their on-field leader.

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has finally ended his on again off again relationship with fifth year senior Stephen Garcia, for now. Garcia has been suspended numerous times by Spurrier but each time Spurrier has let him back on the team and back into the starting quarterback role. When will Spurrier ever learn?

Sophomore Connor Shaw takes over for Garcia against the Wildcats. Shaw began the season as the Gamecocks starting quarterback but was quickly benched in the first quarter for Garcia after fumbling twice against East Carolina.

Shaw’s stat line for one quarter’s worth of work was 3 for 9 for 21-yards passing with no touchdowns and zero interceptions before he was taken out of the game. First game jitters could have contributed to the two fumbles Shaw committed. Spurrier jumped the gun and did not allow Shaw to get comfortable in the role as starter.

Everyone knows what South Carolina’s game plan is week after week. Feed the ball to All-SEC running back Marcus Lattimore.

Lattimore leads the SEC in rushing yards with 677 over Trent Richardson’s 622. Lattimore also leads the SEC in rushing attempts and has 28 more carries than Richardson.

Lattimore received too many carries early in the season last year and wore down before midway through the schedule. Spurrier appears to be doing the same thing again to his top rusher this season. What choice does Spurrier have?

Lattimore had 23 rushes for 112 yards against East Carolina, 27 rushes for 176 yards against Georgia, 37 rushes for 246 yards against Navy. Against Vanderbilt he had 20 rushes for 77 yards and 17 rushes for 66 yards against Auburn.

Since Stephen Garcia has been playing poorly, defenses have been putting eight in the box and shutting down Lattimore. Why would Kentucky doing anything differently in their game?

Kentucky’s linebackers Danny Trevathan and Winston Guy lead the SEC in tackles with 59 and 53 respectively. Their stats may be inflated because the Wildcat offense does not do a good job of time possession, 89th in FBS. Don’t take these guys for granted. They are gamers and they can play against Lattimore. Last year Kentucky held Lattimore to 79-yards rushing on 15 attempts in a Wildcat 31-28 win.

The Final Outcome

Shaw’s ability and performance is an unknown commodity going into this week’s match-up. Newton is a known product, even if he is not considered a great SEC quarterback.

Commonsense would have one believe that South Carolina would not lose two consecutive SEC home games. But the Gamecocks outwardly appear to be in some dysfunction in a pivotal time of the season when they should be clicking not benching.  

The Gamecock offense is in better shape with Lattimore than Kentucky is with true freshman running back Josh Clemons (269 yards rushing). But USC senior left tackle Kyle Nunn may miss his second straight game with a bulging disc. Last week true freshman Mike Matulis (Boynton Beach, Florida) struggled against Auburn.

Shaw will key on All-American wide receiver Alshon Jeffery as will the Wildcat secondary.

The Gamecocks may be without senior defensive lineman Melvin Ingram. Ingram leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Kentucky finds a way to keep the game close and upsets South Carolina for the second straight year 17-14.

What would you like to clarify? Don't forget to sign up for email notifications and as a reader/follower. Follow HogManInLA on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/HogManInLa