Gators at Gamecocks: 10 Things to Keep an Eye on
Saturday, November 12, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Florida-South Carolina series hasn't been much of a rivalry over the years.
Prior to the Gamecocks joining the SEC in 1992, the schools had played only 12 times and had not met since 1964.
Once they started meeting on an annual basis, the Gators reeled off 13 consecutive wins. The other team has to win once in a while for it to be considered a true rivalry, right?
Well, South Carolina finally made it a rivalry when former Gators coach Steve Spurrier arrived in 2005 and spoiled Florida's bid for an SEC East title with a 30-22 victory in a game called the Spurrier Bowl.
The Gamecocks didn't win against until last season, clinching their first SEC East crown with a 22-point win at The Swamp.
The teams meet again on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. Here are 10 things to keep an eye on:
HEALTHY QUARTERBACKS
Early in the week it looked as if the team with the best back-up quarterback might have the advantage.
Both Gators starter John Brantley and Gamecocks starter Connor Shaw left last week's games with injuries. Brantley suffered a minor arm injury early in the fourth quarter against Vanderbilt and did not return. Shaw left a loss at Arkansas with a concussion.
However, by mid-week both coaches gave thumbs up to whether their starting quarterbacks would play.
MORE PISTOL SETS
The Gators unveiled a 'Pistol' formation on offense in their win over Vanderbilt. In the formation, Brantley lines up in the shotgun with the tailback behind him, a change the Gators made to bolster their downhill running game.
The change worked as Florida rushed for 197 yards against the Commodores after totaling just 175 yards in their previous four games.
REVENGE FACTOR
The Gators were beaten soundly by the Gamecocks last season in The Swamp, forced to watch South Carolina celebrate an SEC East title with a 36-14 victory.
It was South Carolina's first win in school history at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium after losing 12 previous games there. The Gators can't get to Atlanta this season, but neither can the Gamecocks if Florida wins on Saturday.
A CHANCE FOR SIGNATURE WIN
They are called “signature” wins, those victories that often define a season or a career. The Gators started 4-0 and then lost four consecutive games before beating Vanderbilt.
The victory over the Commodores was much needed but was not the kind of win that people talk about all week. If the Gators and first-year coach Will Muschamp can get a win Saturday over South Carolina and Spurrier, Gator Nation will be abuzz for a few days.
If that's not enough motivation for the Gators, they need to win to avoid their first losing record in SEC play since 1986. The Gators can finish .500 in conference play with a victory.
GAMECOCKS' GROUND GAME
South Carolina's season took a hit when star running back Marcus Lattimore suffered a season-ending knee injury Oct. 15 at Mississippi State.
The Gamecocks rushed for 231 yards in their next game as freshman Brandon Wilds went for more than 100 yards. However, in their 16-point loss at Arkansas last week, the Gamecocks rushed for a season-low 79 yards as Wilds was held to 21 yards on 10 carries.
RAINEY'S RETURN
Chris Rainey leads the Gators in rushing (526 yards) and receiving (305 yards) even after missing last week's game against Vanderbilt with a right ankle injury.
Rainey is expected back Saturday which should only help Florida's offense. While Rainey will be welcomed back, Jeff Demps did more than enough in his absence, rushing for a career-high 158 yards a week ago.
MOTIVATED GAMECOCKS
South Carolina may be without Lattimore, who rushed for a career-high 212 yards in last year's win over the Gators, but the Gamecocks are not without hope of a second consecutive trip to Atlanta.
If South Carolina wins and Auburn beats Georgia, the Gamecocks win the SEC East. The Gamecocks can also beat Florida two consecutive times for only the second time in program history. They won the 1936 and 1939 games. Finally, since joining the SEC in 1992, South Carolina has never finished 5-0 in the division. With a victory Saturday, the Gamecocks can finish with a perfect record against the East.
GATORS SECONDARY vs. JEFFERY
Florida's young secondary of cornerbacks Marcus Roberson, Jaylen Watkins and Cody Riggs and safeties Matt Elam, Josh Evans and Pop Saunders will be tested to contain Gamecocks junior receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Jeffery (2,767 career receiving yards) needs just 15 yards to surpass Kenny McKinley as South Carolina's all-time leading receiver. Jeffery is the fifth-leading receiver in the SEC, averaging four catches for 54.1 yards per game.
BOOST FOR FLORIDA'S DEFENSE
The Gators' defensive line played well against Vanderbilt and has been making a stronger push in recent weeks. Defensive ends Ronald Powell and Sharrif Floyd and tackles Omar Hunter, Jaye Howard and Dominique Easley are playing more consistently as a unit.
Meanwhile, the linebackers should be back to full strength Saturday after starters Lerentee McCray (shoulder) and Jelani Jenkins (concussion) missed last week's game.
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL
South Carolina is tied with Arizona State for third in the nation in turnovers forced with 27. Only Oklahoma State (31) and Rutgers (28) have forced more.
Meanwhile, the Gators have forced just one turnover in their last five games and rank last in the SEC with eight for the season. The Gators are also last in the league with a minus-9 turnover margin. The good news: South Carolina, while forcing more turnovers than any SEC team, has also committed more (25).
GATOR GAMEBOX
Florida at No. 15 South Carolina
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:10 p.m. (Williams-Brice Stadium)
Records: Florida 5-4 (3-4 SEC); South Carolina 7-2 (5-2)
TV/Internet: CBS/CBSSports.com
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network (click here for affiliates); Sirius 220/XM 199
Game notes: Florida notes; Gamecocks notes
Bottom line: The Gators would like nothing more than to spoil South Carolina's SEC East title hopes the way the Gamecocks did theirs a year ago. This one has the look of a grind-it-out game decided in the fourth quarter.
