South Carolina College Football Predictions 2009

Written June 15, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009-south-carolina-football-predictions Five years into his tenure, the Gamecocks are still waiting for Steve Spurrier to turn South Carolina into big winners. They’re 28-22 in four seasons, with only one bowl win and one eight-win season. Spurrier made some changes by bringing in five new assistance after a deflating finish to last season that included three consecutive bowl losses. Fresh blood may be what the team needs, but with Alabama rotating on, the schedule could again prevent Spurrier and South Carolina from truly competing in the East. Just an eight-win season would boost morale, but that’s easier said than done when looking at their schedule. Looking at the NCAA football lines from BetUS, the Gamecocks are currently listed at +8000 odds to win the NCAA Championship in 2010.

Offense: The Gamecocks have to break in a whole new set of skill players this season, and they conversion begins with quarterback Stephen Garcia. But the running attack, which mustered up just 94.1 rushing yards/game last season, could be the offense’s ignition. True freshman Jarvis Giles showed moves in the spring that the South Carolina Gamecocks might not have seen before. He was nearly impossible to tackle in the open field and tough to catch on the run. This figures to be a running back by committee approach with junior Brian Maddux, sophomore Eric Baker and freshman Kenny Miles all seeing carries at some point. The athletic Garcia should also factor into the running attack, too.

Garcia threw eight interceptions in 22 attempts last season. Coaches want him throwing a lot this summer, supposedly 100 to 120 passes/day. At receiver, Jason Barnes and Joe Hills both have the size to be difference-makers, but they’ve yet to become impacts. Losing tight end Jared Cook to the NFL hurts, but Weslye Saunders can ably take over. New line coach Eric Woldorf is trying to instill a new toughness and physicality to a line that returns three starters, including big left tackle Jarriel King. The Gamecocks must cut down on the 39 sacks they allowed last season.

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Defense: There appears to be more talent on this side of the ball, but there’s significantly less depth. Eric Norwood, who nearly entered the NFL draft after last season, will be in charge of making sure the energy stays high. Norwood will start at weak side linebacker, but he’ll also play quite a bit at end, the position he solely played the first two years. He can also play at tackle if needed.

Norwood has 22 career sacks and he’s just four shy of the school record. He’s so versatile that defenses will have to account for him all over the field this season. The Gamecocks lost their top three corners, but they’ve got a lot of faith in early-enrolling freshman Stephon Gilmore and sophomore Akeem Auguste. Chris Culliver and Darian Steward are solid, while freshman DeVonte Holloman will factor in as well.

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