Final thoughts, prediction as South Carolina heads to Columbia for tilt at Missouri
Somehow, some way South Carolina is on the precipice of bowl eligibility.
Can you believe it? I sure can’t. Most of those who prognosticated the Gamecocks to finish in the realm of three or four wins can’t either.
But here we are.
South Carolina (5-4, 2-4 SEC) heads into this weekend’s tilt with Missouri (4-5, 1-4 SEC) needing just one win in its final three contests to reach the postseason for the first time since 2018. A bowl appearance would make Shane Beamer the third consecutive coach in USC history to reach the postseason in his first year as the head coach in Columbia.
As shocking as USC’s postseason possibilities are, it’s as incredible South Carolina ripped off the offensive performance it did in last week’s romp of Dan Mullen’s cratering Florida squad.
Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s group backed up two months of anemic displays with a 459-yard explosion against a Gators team that sits 15 spots above the Gamecocks in the 247Sports Team Talent Rankings — which rates teams based on the number of five-, four- and three-star recruits on its rosters.
In seven games against FBS competition entering last weekend, the Gamecocks had been held under 100 yards rushing five times. Naturally, South Carolina ripped off 289 yards on the ground against Florida as both Kevin Harris and ZaQuandre White went over 100 yards apiece.
Speaking of Harris, last week’s win was the first time this season he’s truly looked the part of the runner who led the SEC with over 1,100 yards on the ground a year ago. The Georgia native clearly hasn’t been himself in 2021 as injuries, illness and an ineffective offensive line have hampered his production. That said, Saturday was a reminder of how dangerous Harris can be when he gets a head of steam rolling downhill.
Another round of props are also due to third-string quarterback Jason Brown. After getting beat by not one, but two quarterback competitors this year, the former St. Francis (Pennsylvania) signal-caller stuck it out and got his first real shot since transferring to South Carolina before spring ball. Brown completed 14 of 24 passes — including 13 of his first 15 throws — for 175 yards and two touchdowns against Florida.
South Carolina’s defense again showed up against Florida as well. Defensive tackle Jabari Ellis effectively put the game on ice with his 18-yard scoop and score off an Emory Jones fumble and added another takeaway to the SEC’s most prolific turnover-causing unit.
Defensive coordinator Clayton White deserves a steep raise for his work this fall. He’ll get another chance to add a few more digits to that check on Saturday against a Missouri offense that ranks fourth in the SEC in passing offense this weekend.
White, who spent four years on the staff act N.C. State, will also face his former coworker in Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz. Drinkwitz served as the offensive coordinator for the Wolfpack in 2016, while White served as the co-special teams coordinator and safeties coach.
Missouri has its share of questions heading into the weekend, namely who will start at quarterback. Incumbent starter Connor Bazelak continues to recover from injury. The Tigers used both Tyler Macon and Brady Cook in their 43-6 loss to Georgia last week. Drinkwitz said on Wednesday he won’t be afraid to trot out a couple different quarterbacks against the Gamecocks.
Defensively, the Tigers have been a complete and utter disaster under former NFL head coach Steve Wilks who, coincidentally, inquired about the South Carolina job that went to Beamer last winter. Missouri ranks last in the SEC and 123rd nationally allowing almost 500 yards per game. If things hold, it’d be the worst total defensive output for the Tigers since allowing 479.9 yards per game in 2016.
The energy around South Carolina’s facility this week has been palpable. Whether Beamer and his staff can mitigate the complacency that can come with a win like the one over Florida last week remains to be seen.
Beamer has played the role of rabble-rouser throughout his first season in Columbia. Saturday, he’ll need to put on his red ringmaster coat and help the Gamecocks tame the Tigers.
South Carolina should have its share of chances against this Missouri defense, but the Gamecocks’ propensity for letdowns over the last few years makes me hesitant to pick them in this one.
Beamer and his staff deserve a ton of credit for the win over Florida last week. The ill will that permeated the message boards over the last few weeks, though, is going to return once more. Give me the Tigers by a couple scores in a cold one in CoMo.
— Prediction: Missouri 35, South Carolina 21 —
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Final thoughts, prediction as South Carolina heads to Columbia for tilt at Missouri."
