South Carolina Football: ESPN's FPI predicts every 2021 Gamecock game

The 2021 college football season is the beginning of a new era for South Carolina fans. New head coach Shane Beamer begins his first head coaching stint in college football.

Let’s take a look at what ESPN projects the Gamecocks to do in 2021, per the FPI.

Sept. 4th Eastern Illinois Panthers (FPI 98.8%): The Panthers were one of the worst teams in the FCS last season. South Carolina is predicted to steamroll the Panthers and it will be a warm welcome for the Shane Beamer era.

Sept. 11th at East Carolina (FPI 68.4%): This ECU team is sneaky dangerous. The FPI gives South Carolina a 68.4 percent chance to win this game. ECU defensive back Ja’Quan MacMillan is a playmaker to worry about. He had four picks in 2020. ECU has enough dangerous pieces on offense to pull this one out. They beat SMU last year. COVID-19 really messed things up in 2020, but regardless SMU was a quality win for the Pirates.

Sept. 18th at Georgia Bulldogs (FPI 6.9%): It’s surprising FPI even gave South Carolina a 6.9 percent chance in this game. The Bulldogs have superstars everywhere you look. JT Daniels at quarterback, George Pickens at wide receiver, and incoming transfers defensive back Derion Kendrick (Clemson) and wide receiver/tight end Arik Gilbert (LSU). Kendrick and Gilbert are set to be eligible immediately. Bad news for South Carolina fans. The Gamecocks will get throttled in this one.

Sept. 25th vs. Kentucky Wildcats (FPI 42.5%): The Wildcats have quietly become a very solid program under Mark Stoops. In eight seasons as Kentucky’s head coach, he’s won seven games or more four times. Kavosiey Smoke has one of the best names in college football. It’s not surprising that the FPI would pick South Carolina to lose this game, but they could just as easily win it, too. Which is why the FPI hovers around 42.5 percent.

Oct. 2nd vs. Troy Trojans (FPI 61.1%): The Trojans have been known to upset teams over the years. It’s in their program’s blood and DNA. Troy defeated LSU 24-21 in 2017 and they also beat Missouri 24-14 in 2004. FPI gives South Carolina a 61.1% chance to win this one, but Troy’s wide receiver Kaylon Geiger will be a problem. He’s one of the most dynamic playmakers from the Sun Belt. In 2020, he hauled in 64 catches for 752 yards and three touchdowns.

Oct. 9th at Tennessee Volunteers (FPI 31.2%): The quarterback job for Tennessee is completely up for grabs; so it’s surprising the FPI didn’t give South Carolina a better chance of winning this game. Quarterback transfer Hendon Hooker (Virginia Tech) is in the mix to win the starting job for the Vols. If he does, he’s going to be much better than Jarrett Gaurantano. In 2020, Guarantano was a pick-six machine for the Vols. The job is wide open in fall camp, so we’ll see who wins the job under center in the coming weeks.

Oct. 16th vs. Vanderbilt (FPI 81.7%): Vanderbilt didn’t win a single football game last season. It’s been a long fall for a program that once was very competitive in the SEC under former Vandy head coach James Franklin. New head coach and former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea takes over for the ‘Dores in 2021. South Carolina whipped Vanderbilt 41-7 last season. The Gamecocks might not beat Vandy by that much this season, but they shouldn’t have any problems, either.

Oct. 23rd at Texas A&M (FPI 6.8%): Texas A&M has become one of the best programs in college football the past few seasons under head coach Jimbo Fisher. In 2020, the Aggies went 9-1, barely missing out on the College Football Playoff. A&M figures to be very good yet again this season. South Carolina has very little chance of winning this game.

Nov 6th. vs. Florida (FPI 22.1%): Florida quarterback Emory Jones is going to be a big, big problem for every team he faces. FPI is wise to not give South Carolina much of a shot in this game.

Nov. 13th at Missouri (FPI 29.8%): Ohio State transfer Mookie Cooper is going to be instant-offense for the Tigers in 2021. He’s a playmaker that Missouri can utilize on jet sweeps and end arounds. They need to get him the ball in space and let him do damage. He’s going to be a problem for South Carolina.

It’s hard to explain why the FPI gives the Gamecocks such a small chance of winning this game. They only lost by seven to Missouri in 2020, this game could go either way.

Nov. 20th vs. Auburn (FPI 25.2%): Auburn returns a talented defense that has some big-time playmakers at linebacker Zakoby McClain and Owen Pappoe. They had 216 tackles between them in 2020. The Tigers also return some beef on the defensive line, including 335 pound Tony Fair (transfer from UAB). Running back Tank Bigsby is one of the best playmakers at his position in the country, when healthy. South Carolina doesn’t have much of a chance in this one.

Nov. 27th vs. Clemson (FPI 5.4%): It’s another year in college football and Clemson is loaded under Dabo Swinney. What else is new? That’s the expectation for the Tigers, who will likely be in the college football playoff at the end of the 2021-2022 season. South Carolina has zero chance in this game. 5.4 percent is being generous. Zero chance is more honest.

(Photo at top of page by: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire)