Kentucky (2-3) vs. South Carolina (4-1) Preview

Game Facts

South Carolina’s 2010 record was 9-5, including a losses to Auburn in the SEC Championship game and Florida State in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

UK is 7-14-1 all-time against South Carolina.

UK lost to LSU last week 35-7 in Baton Rouge, LA

South Carolina lost to Auburn 16-13 in Columbia, SC.

Game will be played at Williams Bryce Stadium in Columbia, SC

Game will be televised on the SEC Network at 12:21pm EST.

South Carolina snapshot

After reaching the SEC Championship game a year ago, many felt this season was Steve Spurrier’s best chance for a national contender. The Gamecocks return two first-team All-SEC performers in Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery. Both Stephen Garcia and Rokevious Watkins were named to the second-team, while Kyle Nunn was named to the third-team. ESPN has Marcus Lattimore on their Heisman watch list.

Entering the game Saturday, the Gamecocks offense has struggled. They opened the season with Connor Shaw under center and he was quickly replaced by Stephen Garcia against ECU. However, Garcia has struggled too and now Shaw will receive the start against the Cats. Many in Columbia feel this is a chance for Shaw to build his confidence against UK. If he struggles, look for Garcia to see more action. UK fans should expect a heavy dose of Marcus Lattimore. Spurrier has shown he isn’t afraid to give him the ball 30 times per game. When Lattimore isn’t carrying it and the quarterback isn’t running, Spurrier will call Alshon Jeffery’s number. Jeffery is big and has been a mismatch for the Cats every season. Another key name to remember is Bruce Ellington, who UK recruited. While Ellington is the starting point guard on the basketball team, he is capable of running in the wildcat or lining up in the slot position. He also returns punts and is very shifty.

The Gamecock defense is the strength of the team right now. Currently the team ranks No 25 in the country in total defense. Their strength has been the ability to defend the pass. The Cocks rank No 13 in pass defense and No 82 in rush defense. Last week, they picked off Auburn four times. Also, their defensive line is fast and gets to the quarterback in a hurry. On the season, they already have 13 sacks collectively. To put that in perspective, UK has 7 total sacks. The two biggest threats are Melvin Ingram and Jadeveon Clowney. Both defensive ends are very explosive and will create problems for UK’s offensive line. Ingram has been listed as doubtful, but some in Columbia feel he will try to play on Saturday.

Kentucky snapshot

The Cats were defeated last week by No 1 ranked LSU. While I’m not a believer in moral victories, the UK defense showed they can compete. However, UK’s offense is still a mess. The Cats enter Saturday’s contest 2-3 and need a win desperately. Morgan Newton continues to struggle and the receivers are not helping matters. Maxwell Smith received more reps this week, but he remains the back-up quarterback. However, if the offensive struggles continue, Smith could see action again Saturday. Currently UK’s offense ranks 118 out of 120 in the nation.

The Cats may get a much needed spark on Saturday as Raymond Sanders is set to return after having his knee scoped. Joker Phillips has called Sanders a leader on the team and hasn’t ruled out him starting. Look for Sanders and Clemons to both see a lot of action. There has also been talk about Bookie Cobbins playing at wide receiver. While I think Cobbins has the chance to become a special player, I’m not sure it’s worth burning his redshirt this season unless the staff feels he will see significant action. For what it’s worth, my sources don’t think he will play Saturday.

While UK’s offense really struggled last week against LSU, Rick Minter’s unit showed promise. While the Cats missed a few opportunities, the game could have been much closer than 14-0 at halftime. The Cats have the beef up front to plug holes and stuff the ground attack. However, they have been unable to provide a consistent pass rush. Look for Rick Minter to mix things up and force Conner Shaw to make quick decisions. Whether it’s Shaw or Garcia under center, they both will run with the football. UK’s linebackers will have their hands full on Saturday.

Keys to the game

As always, turnover margin will be huge again. South Carolina has shown they will turn the ball over, however UK’s defense hasn’t shown they can take advantage of these opportunities. When the ball is on the ground, the Cats have to recover it. When the quarterback throws into double or triple coverage, the Cats have to pick it off. The Cats must find a way to win the turnover margin Saturday if they expect to win. Based on UK’s offensive struggles, the Cats may need a +3 or higher margin to win the game. While Garcia is not starting, I believe the Cocks can score 20 points pretty easily.

UK’s offense must establish the ground attack. As I mentioned above, the Gamecocks rushing defense is not great. The Cats need to run between the tackles and control the tempo.  If this happens, the Cats can hang around in this game. The last thing Joker Phillips wants to do is give Steve Spurrier 60-70 plays on offense. However, if I’m Steve Spurrier, I would stack the box and force Morgan Newton to beat me with his arm.

The Cats haven’t had a big play on special teams yet. It’s time for Winston Guy or Mychal Bailey to bust one and take it to the house. Both guys return kick-off’s fearless. Playing South Carolina is a home coming for several UK players, so I expect a big effort. This team needs a win and it’s time for Morgan Newton to rally his teammates. Still, I don’t think the Cats can put enough points on the board this week.

South Carolina wins 30-17

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