Something Has to Give: Kentucky vs. South Carolina

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PIC BY PROFOOTBALLSPOT.COM[/caption] The 1-2 Kentucky Wildcats will be taking on the 2-1 South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday in the friendly confines of Commonwealth Stadium. These two teams are worlds apart statistically speaking. Let’s take a look:

OFFENSE

Scoring Points Per Game: SEC/National Ranking

Kentucky: 34.7, SEC-4^th, Nation-54^th

South Carolina 15.7, SEC-14^th, Nation-120^th

Rushing Yards Per Game

Kentucky: 190.33, SEC-6th

South Carolina: 90.67, SEC-14^th, Nation-122nd

Passing Yards Per Game

Kentucky: 226.3, SEC-7^th

South Carolina: 197, SEC-9^th

Total Yards Per Game

Kentucky: 416.7, SEC-8^th

South Carolina: 287.7, SEC-13^thNation-123rd

Tackles for Loss Allowed

Kentucky: 21, SEC-13^th

South Carolina: 20, SEC-9^th

QB Sacks Allowed

Kentucky: 9, SEC 12^th

South Carolina: 4, SEC-5^th

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DEFENSE

Points Allowed Per Game: SEC/National Ranking

Kentucky: 43.7, SEC-14^th, Nation-122^nd

South Carolina: 17.3, SEC-4th

Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game

Kentucky: 243, SEC-14^th, Nation-116^th

South Carolina: 192.67, SEC-12^th

Passing Yards Allowed Per Game

Kentucky: 285, SEC-14^th, Nation- 112^th

South Carolina: 222.7, SEC-6th

Total Yards Allowed Per Game

Kentucky: 528, SEC-14^th, Nation-122^nd

South Carolina: 453, SEC-10th

Tackles for Loss Per Game

Kentucky: 16, SEC-11th

South Carolina: 21, SEC-4th

QB Sacks Per Game

Kentucky: 4, SEC-10th

South Carolina: 5, SEC-7^th

What does all this mean?

Either Kentucky or South Carolina will uncharacteristically win the football game. Kentucky wins if: The Cats simply outscore the Gamecocks in a shootout. South Carolina wins if: The Gamecocks hold the UK offense to significantly lower point and yardage totals than their season average and score 30 plus points. In a matchup of one of the nation’s worst offenses going head to head with one of the country’s worst defenses, something will have to give. Whichever team shows the most improvement within their personnel, structure, and schematic weaknesses will conquer in a September SEC East showdown.