Staff picks: South Carolina-Charlotte, other Week 4 highlights
It’s week four for South Carolina and a chance for the Gamecocks to snap a two-game losing streak.
South Carolina and Charlotte kick off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) and Gamecock Central’s staff, along with 107.5 The Game, picked the game plus a few other games on the Week 4 slate.
Chris Clark: Charlotte’s offense could cause some issues for a Gamecock defense that’s banged up and had some trouble spots. South Carolina’s advantage in size, speed, and skill should eventually take over, but here’s to thinking there will be more tense moments inside Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night.
There are matchups to be had for Spencer Rattler, Carolina’s receivers, and the offensive staff. There’s still an element of “prove it” in play until further notice, though. I’m not picking the Gamecocks to light up the scoreboard, though it’d be a welcome sight for fans if the team did. South Carolina 38, Charlotte 20.
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Terry Ford: The Gamecocks offense HAS to be able to get well against probably the worst defense in college football. The 49ers might be able to move the ball against a banged-up Carolina defense but USC should win rather easily. South Carolina 45, Charlotte 20.
Pearson Fowler: Carolina scores but maybe not enough. Charlotte manages a couple of big plays with Carolina walking wounded on defense. The game isn’t as close as 45-24 looks but questions remain about offensive identity. South Carolina 45, Charlotte 24
Joe Macheca: The Gamecocks’ offense looks great and executes in their first 15 plays. The defense finally forces a turnover and then they start coming in bunches. Gamecocks roll all night. South Carolina 42, Charlotte 14.
Wes Mitchell: This game should never truly be in doubt but I do like the Charlotte offense’s chances to at least move the ball some against a young and battered Carolina defense, though potentially getting Cam Smith back should help. We still need to see the Carolina offense put together a complete game but this is a Charlotte defense that has struggled all year. South Carolina 40, Charlotte 17.
Jay Philips: The offense will be able to move the ball against a statistically bad Charlotte defense, but I’m not convinced the issues that need fixing all happen in a week’s time. Leave the starters and mainline guys in as long as needed, because gaining confidence in who they are and what they do is job one right now. If this game is tight late that’s a bad sign. South Carolina 41, Charlotte 23.
Michael Sauls: In theory, this should be a tune-up/cupcake game for the Gamecocks. I think South Carolina will be up big at the half and let some guys rest but Charlotte will get some garbage time points.
There will probably be a fake field goal or some other weird trick play call that Beamer calls early in the game to try to get the crowd and the team’s morale back up after the devastating loss to Georgia. South Carolina 35, Charlotte 17.
Kendall Smith: This will be the first time all year we see what South Carolina’s offense is supposed to look like. Expect some explosive plays and for the run game to get going. Chris Reynolds is super talented, but he cannot put the 49ers on his back for the whole game against an SEC opponent. Charlotte has really struggled, so I am taking the Gamecocks. South Carolina 38, Charlotte 13.
Collyn Taylor: After two SEC opponents, including the best defense in the country, this is a welcomed sight for South Carolina. Charlotte’s defense has really struggled and a Gamecocks’ offense full of playmakers has a chance to really work out some kinks. A very depleted South Carolina defense will likely give up some points but the Gamecocks should win this one going away. South Carolina 45, Charlotte 25.
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Mike Uva: Charlotte’s defense has been a train wreck this season. Ranking third to last in FBS in rush defense, this matchup is exactly what the Gamecocks need to boost their confidence. Especially in the run game, an area where USC has struggled to find any consistency this season.
The injuries on defense will lead to more points by Charlotte than you would like to see this weekend but South Carolina’s offense will look the best it’s had all season. Giving this team not just a much-needed win but a better sense of what they can become as a team. South Carolina 41, Charlotte 21.
Jack Veltri: I’ll take some words directly out of Shane Beamer’s mouth: The time is now for South Carolina to step up and set the tone on Saturday night. It has a good chance to do just that with an underwhelming Charlotte 49ers squad coming to town. The thing that sticks out to me is not how the Gamecocks will play better, but rather how they can get back to having fun out there. We watched them do it last year, so why not try to do it again under the lights? South Carolina 38, Charlotte 21.
| Picker | Clemson at Wake Forest | Florida at Tennessee | Arkansas vs. Texas A&M | Southern Cal at Oregon State | Texas at Texas Tech | Duke at Kansas | Notre Dame at North Carolina | Minnesota at Michigan State |
| Chris Clark | Clemson | Tennessee | Arkansas | Southern Cal | Texas | Kansas | North Carolina | Minnesota |
| Terry Ford | Clemson | Tennessee | Arkansas | Southern Cal | Texas Tech | Kansas | Notre Dame | Michigan State |
| Pearson Fowler | Clemson | Tennessee | Arkansas | Southern Cal | Texas | Kansas | Notre Dame | Minnesota |
| Joe Macheca | Clemson | Tennessee | Texas A&M | Southern Cal | Texas | Duke | Notre Dame | Michigan State |
| Wes Mitchell | Clemson | Tennessee | Texas A&M | Southern Cal | Texas | Duke | Notre Dame | Michigan State |
| Jay Philips | Clemson | Tennessee | Arkansas | Southern Cal | Texas Tech | Kansas | Notre Dame | Minnesota |
| Michael Sauls | Wake Forest | Tennessee | Arkansas | Southern Cal | Texas | Kansas | Notre Dame | Michigan State |
| Kendall Smith | Wake Forest | Tennessee | Arkansas | Oregon State | Texas | Kansas | North Carolina | Michigan State |
| Collyn Taylor | Wake Forest | Tennessee | Texas A&M | Oregon State | Texas Tech | Kansas | North Carolina | Minnesota |
| Mike Uva | Clemson | Tennessee | Arkansas | Southern Cal | Texas | Duke | Notre Dame | Minnesota |
| Jack Veltri | Clemson | Tennessee | Arkansas | Southern Cal | Texas Tech | Kansas | Notre Dame | Michigan State |
