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Staff picks: South Carolina-Arkansas, other week two highlights

On3 imageby:Collyn Taylor•09/09/22•

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On3 image
Brad Johnson (Photo by Chris Gillespie)

It’s week two for South Carolina and a chance for the Gamecocks to notch a quality win over an SEC West opponent.

South Carolina and Arkansas kick off at noon Saturday (ESPN) and Gamecock Central’s staff, along with 107.5 The Game, picked the game plus a few other games on the Week 2 slate.

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Chris Clark: The Gamecocks hit some explosive plays on the strength of a big Spencer Rattler performance, do enough defensively, and Shane Beamer’s program takes a step forward with a quality road victory. South Carolina 27, Arkansas 24.

Terry Ford: Arkansas 27, South Carolina 24

Pearson Fowler: Arkansas 38, South Carolina 17.

Joe Macheca: This game will be back and forth with momentum swings all over the place. Arkansas jumps out to the early lead, the Gamecocks hit back, then Arkansas gets momentum late in the second half and closes it out at home. South Carolina takes a lot of lessons into Georgia with prayers for an upset bid. Arkansas 45, South Carolina 31.

Wes Mitchell: I expect South Carolina to play better on offense this week and, while they should be able to attack Arkansas through the air, the running game will need to give them just enough to have a chance. Carolina beats the spread but I can’t pick a win yet. Arkansas 31, South Carolina 27.

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Jay Phillips: Arkansas.

Michael Sauls: I think KJ Jefferson is the difference maker in this one. He’ll find a way to put up similar numbers to last week’s performance (223 yds, 3 td) but it will take him a while to get going. South Carolina’s defense will keep the Gamecocks in it until the very end but a late TD from the Razorbacks will be the difference. Even though it’ll end in a loss I think South Carolina will look a lot better and the play will be much more consistent this week than it was against Georgia State. Arkansas 28, South Carolina 21.

Kendall Smith: South Carolina hasn’t given me enough reason to believe they have what it teams from a run defense standpoint to stop Arkansas. Raheim Sanders is a massive ground game threat for the Razorbacks, and I just don’t know if the Gamecocks can contain him. It will be closer than some may think. Arkansas 27, South Carolina 20. 

Collyn Taylor: The more I wrestle with this one, the more I think it’ll be the opposite of last week for South Carolina. With Arkansas’s injuries in the secondary and the Gamecocks’ playmakers, there should be more good offense in theory. Blocking Arkansas will be a challenge but there should be adjustments made to get Spencer Rattler out of the pocket. The issue becomes stopping Arkansas and the two-headed attack of Jefferson and Raheim Sanders. This one has the chance to be close throughout but Arkansas uses a late score to pull away and cover. Arkansas 34, South Carolina 24.

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Mike Uva: Forget the scheme, which is important of course, but Spencer Rattler is learning how to play with a different group of guys. I’m still optimistic the offense will get better each week even if it doesn’t feel that way based on the score come Saturday. Look for the Gamecocks to show improvements on offense this week but just not enough to take care of a good Arkansas team on the road. Arkansas 27, South Carolina 20.

Jack Veltri: When you look beyond the scoreboard, South Carolina didn’t play great against Georgia State. I expect Arkansas to take advantage of the Gamecocks’ mistakes. KJ Jefferson has come a long way since becoming the starting quarterback last year. He’s going to continue to prove why he’s the man in Fayetteville. 

And maybe South Carolina will surprise everyone and come ready to play. However, I don’t see things drastically changing in one week. It’s a process. I think Sam Pittman’s team is where Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks will be in due time. For now, the Razorbacks will dominate this game and bring South Carolina back to reality. Arkansas 38, South Carolina 21.  

PickerAlabama at TexasUNC at Georgia StateTennessee at PittsburghApp State at Texas A&MIowa State at IowaHouston at Texas TechKentucky at FloridaBaylor at BYU
Chris ClarkAlabamaGeorgia StateTennesseeTexas A&MIowa StateTexas TechFloridaBaylor
Terry FordAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeTexas A&MIowaTexas TechFloridaBYU
Pearson FowlerAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeTexas A&MIowa StateHoustonFlorida Baylor
Joe MachecaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeTexas A&MIowa StateTexas TechFloridaBaylor
Wes MitchellAlabamaGeorgia StateTennesseeTexas A&MIowa StateTexas TechKentuckyBaylor
Jay PhillipsAlabamaGeoriga StatePittsburghTexas A&MIowaHoustonFloridaBYU
Michael SaulsAlabamaNorth CarolinaPittsburghTexas A&MIowa StateHoustonKentuckyBaylor
Kendall SmithAlabamaGeorgia StateTennesseeTexas A&MIowaHoustonFloridaBaylor
Collyn TaylorAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeTexas A&MIowaHoustonFloridaBYU
Mike UvaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeTexas A&MIowa StateHoustonKentuckyBYU
Jack VeltriAlabamaNorth CarolinaPittsburghTexas A&MIowa StateHoustonFloridaBYU

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