Five South Carolina football predictions for the Tennessee game
As South Carolina football matches up against Tennessee on Saturday night, GamecockCentral.com staffers take a stab at how the game against the Volunteers may play out inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
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CHRIS CLARK: South Carolina has had success on special teams with a variety of fakes, even though teams are surely on guard against it. Let’s take this in a slightly different direction, though.
Here’s to thinking that the Gamecocks break out a trick play early in this contest on offense. The running back room is banged up and the team has had its worst two performances of the year on that side of the ball in the span of three weeks.
That means USC will need to find some ways to manufacture some yardage or a score.
WES MITCHELL: Dakereon Joyner will have an increased role on Saturday. If the Gamecocks are going to get their running game going without MarShawn Lloyd and Christian Beal-Smith available for this one they’re going to need to mix things up.
In his limited reps against Florida, Joyner looked as explosive as he has in some time. This is a Tennessee defense that has surrendered a lot of yards this season with turnovers bailing them out at times. If the Gamecocks are going to manufacture some type of ground game, then Joyner may be their best option.
KENDALL SMITH: Sorry everyone, but this isn’t the prediction you’ll want to hear, but I think Jalin Hyatt is coming for blood. He’s from Irmo and was never offered by the Gamecocks, so now is his chance to prove something.
He’s already got 1,116 receiving yards on the season. I expect him to pin 100+ on South Carolina this weekend. The Gamecocks defense is already banged up, Tennesse’s offense goes quick, and Hyatt is one of the best receivers in the nation.
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COLLYN TAYLOR: On paper, and given recent trends, this game will be really tough for South Carolina to win. But I will say South Carolina will finish with twice as many passing yards as rushing yards.
The Gamecocks could be trailing and will need to throw the ball more than run it, plus issues getting the run game going this week. Also, Tennessee’s secondary isn’t great and has given up its fair share of big plays. I think the Gamecocks have the potential to hit some explosives deep Saturday night.
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MIKE UVA: In a matchup between Midland talents, Cam Smith should be lined up with Jalin Hyatt several times throughout the course of the game on Saturday. As Smith mentioned earlier in the week, it will likely be his final game at Williams-Brice Stadium. Smith will go out with a bang and record his second interception of the year.
