Preseason Top 10 Countdown

Preseason Top 10 Countdown

   Coming in at #7 in my top ten are the South Carolina Gamecocks. Spurrier finally did it. He has taken a team that couldn't win, a team that never thought they would see double digit wins, a team that never thought they would be in the mix for a conference championship, to a whole new level. So far I have told you about what the expectations were for some teams coming off successful seasons, and now we take a look at South Carolina. When was the last time South Carolina fans could go into a season with the expectations they have had the last two seasons? Fans are excited and they should be......but be very careful.....Carolina has a very tough schedule ahead of them.

  The Gamecocks have a solid defense returning including defensive end, Jadaveon Clowney. This defense ranked in the top 15 in points allowed. This will be key for South Carolina, as for any team in the SEC, because to have a good season in the SEC means you have to have a dependable defense to keep things from getting out of reach. There is another important point to look at with this team going into the summer and fall. No more Garcia. The days of Spurrier having to decide to keep this guy or whether to start him or sit him are finally over. This team was at its best when they didn't have the Garcia cloud hovering over them. Now, Spurrier has Connor Shaw going into the season knowing he is the guy to beat for the starting job. For Shaw, he won't feel the pressure (as much) like when he had Garcia just waiting for him to screw up. This is Shaw's offense. And if he can believe in himself and believe that this is his job to lose then he can really put on a good show for South Carolina fans this year. He brings a very good balance of running and throwing threat to the offense. His decision making got better and better as the season progressed. He rushed 135 times. He threw 188 passes. This guy gives another wrinkle to Spurrier's offense. Not to mention Marcus Lattimore should be back and healthy. Mix that with a qb who can run and throw and that sets up for a great run at the SEC East Champion. Another WR needs to emerge early in the season to take the pressure off, as they lost Alshon Jeffery to the NFL Draft. As long as Shaw can keep his feet moving and get outside the pocket and extend some plays, I think they will be okay early on. But after the first two or three games, South Carolina needs that deep threat they had with Jeffery. Otherwise, it's going to be very tough to win running the ball. Teams will start to stack the box if they feel like there isn't a threat on the outside, and when that happens......well, I don't think Lattimore can do it all.

The schedule is a tough one. The Gamecocks don't get the "cake walk" that Georgia is getting, so it is very important that they beat the Bulldogs. They start on the road against Vanderbilt, which won't be as easy as it used to be. And Vanderbilt will be pretty hyped up for the home opener. Three weeks later they play at home against Missouri. I think this will be a good game to watch but in the end South Carolina will be on top. I don't think Missouri is ready for the SEC speed yet. At Kentucky....Win. Then, Georgia. This is a big one. A very important game for the division race. A sour taste still reminds the Bulldogs of the loss last season, and better yet, the Gamecocks are pretty angry too. Don't be shocked if this one gets ugly and tempers fly. I am picking South Carolina in this one, however, the rest of the schedule gets the best of South Carolina and opens the door to let Georgia play for the SEC Championship again. I think South Carolina has the better team but it won't show because they got the short end with their schedule. After Georgia they play LSU, Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas.....in that order. That is not anything to joke about. I almost feel sorry for them. The pressure will be on South Carolina. Beating Georgia won't be enough unless Georgia some how figures out how to choke down the stretch of what seems to be the easiest SEC schedule ever.

Next up in my Preseason Top 10 Countdown are the Seminoles of Florida State at #6. You won't want to miss this one. Also on Tap for this week are your questions. I have recieved some good ones so far. Keep them coming. Email questions to jeremy.cf2d@yahoo.com Thanks.