Staff Picks: South Carolina vs. LSU, other Week 3 matchups
The stage is set. South Carolina, coming off a huge win over Kentucky, will welcome in No. 16 LSU for a huge matchup on Saturday.
Kickoff is set for noon on ABC. ESPN’s “College GameDay” will also be in Columbia to preview the game, starting at 9 a.m. on ESPN. The crew will be live from Gamecock Park and then move inside Williams-Brice Stadium for the final hour.
Here’s how the GamecockCentral and 107.5 The Game staff sees this game going plus a few predictions on other key matchups this weekend.
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George Bagwell: I haven’t picked against South Carolina yet, and that’s worked out pretty well so far. I think the Gamecock defensive ends might have their toughest test of the year in Week 3, but an improved LaNorris Sellers and a solid day from Rocket Sanders on the ground (it may be rainy) will do enough to secure a 3-0 start. The crowd and atmosphere at Williams-Brice will be the deciding factor. South Carolina 26, LSU 20.
Peyton Butt: South Carolina has held its own so far in the season but with College Gameday in town I think the pressure will be too much for young LaNorris Sellers to lead the Gamecocks to victory. I think through the first half it will be a close game but in the third and fourth quarters the Tigers will have more strength. LSU 31, South Carolina 17.
Elijah Campbell: Well, the Gamecocks really showed us last week didn’t they?? The pass rush proved elite and completely scared Kentucky from passing the ball. Task will be much more daunting this week as Will Campbell and Emery Jones anchor an LSU offensive line that makes their life much easier. Stewart and Kennard and company will still get theirs but the dominance won’t be at the same level. I trust the South Carolina offense to put up good running numbers and move the ball but I’m leaning Tigers in a close one. LSU 24, South Carolina 21.
Chris Clark: I think South Carolina gets the run game going a bit on offense and that LaNorris Sellers continues to show growth. On the other hand, the Gamecock defense limits LSU’s pass-heavy offensive attack. South Carolina 24, LSU 20.
Terry Ford: I picked Kentucky last week and the Gamecocks won…so I don’t want to mess with the juju! LSU 24, South Carolina 21.
[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Akron football game]
Griffin Goodwyn: Eyes from all across the country will be on the Gamecocks this Saturday. Not only will South Carolina’s contest against LSU be broadcast on ABC – its second national broadcast in as many weeks – but College GameDay will be in town ahead of the game. The atmosphere at and outside Williams-Brice Stadium will be electric throughout the morning and early afternoon, with a sellout crowd and a record number of 20,000-plus student ticket requests. That enough can tilt momentum in favor of the Gamecocks, who enter the game as seven-point underdogs, according to ESPN BET. Defense wins championships, it can win individual games, too – and South Carolina has an advantage in this category after two strong performances to start the year. LSU, on the other hand, have allowed the most yards to opposing offenses (371.0 yards per game) of any team in the conference. South Carolina 24, LSU 20.
Tyler Head: This is an intriguing matchup Saturday that will be SC’s toughest yet. If the Gamecocks can put pressure on Nussmeier and run the ball against a weak LSU defense, they can win. South Carolina 24, LSU 21.
Wes Mitchell: The South Carolina fan experience has begun and this is the part where we find out if this year’s squad can handle success. Even if they can, this is a much tougher test than the first two games. That said, it feels like a game that the home crowd can affect. South Carolina 27, LSU 24.
Jay Phillips: Last week was a tough choice in picking UK to win, but the eye test hadn’t been passed yet by the Gamecocks. While the offense still has plenty of room for growth, especially up front, the defense is proving it can carry this team in the short term. LSU has its own set of struggles, but we all know that’s a roster filled with high level talent. Can Carolina continue to progress just enough on offense? Can the D find another level to hit? Can the Williams-Brice crowd provide the extra spark? If all of those answers are “yes” then I see the home team winning a close one. With a little hope involved, give me South Carolina 27, LSU 23.
Kendall Smith: I said I’d pick them, so I will! Willy B should be rockin’ & it’s the first SEC road game of the season for LSU. That’s a tough combination for the the Tigers. Give me the Gamecocks. South Carolina 27, LSU 24.
Mike Uva: Remember when Bobby Boucher showed up at halftime and the Mud Dogs won the Bourbon Bowl? That’s what I feel like I’m watching with Dylan Stewart each week. As long as Stewart and this South Carolina defense continue to play at an elite level, all this Gamecocks offense has to do is just enough to give them a chance to win each week. South Carolina 20, LSU 13.
Jack Veltri: Oh, so now everyone wants to pick South Carolina. Well, I was one of the few to pick the Gamecocks to go into Lexington and win last week. And I was right. However, this matchup will be much tougher. If you go back to my season predictions, I have South Carolina losing to LSU. But things can change. There’s so much on the line for both teams, especially South Carolina, with a chance to really set the tone and win on the national stage. This will be the defense’s biggest challenge thus far with an LSU offense that can sling it. But if the Gamecocks can stop the run and create pressure, they have a chance. Offensively, just do more of what they did last weekend. It won’t be easy against a Blake Baker defense. But I think South Carolina will step up to the plate and deliver a huge win. South Carolina 23, LSU 21.
Chris Wellbaum: Mostly to keep the reverse jinx alive, but LSU is much tougher on both sides of the ball than Kentucky. The Gamecocks should be able to keep the LSU offense in check, but they still need a little bit more from the offense to pull off the upset. LSU 17, South Carolina 15.
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| Arizona at Kansas State | Alabama at Wisconsin | Boston College at Missouri | Texas A&M at Florida | West Virginia at Pittsburgh (Backyard Brawl) | Oregon at Oregon State (Civil War) | Washington State at Washington (Apple Cup) | Colorado at Colorado State | |
| George Bagwell (9-9) | Arizona | Alabama | Boston College | Texas A&M | Pittsburgh | Oregon | Washington State | Colorado |
| Peyton Butt (7-11) | Arizona | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | Pittsburgh | Oregon | Washington | Colorado |
| Elijah Campbell (11-7) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington State | Colorado |
| Chris Clark (11-7) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | Pittsburgh | Oregon | Washington | Colorado |
| Terry Ford (12-6) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington | Colorado |
| Griffin Goodwyn (12-6) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington | Colorado |
| Tyler Head (12-6) | Arizona | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington State | Colorado State |
| Wes Mitchell (12-6) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Florida | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington | Colorado |
| Jay Philips (11-7) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Florida | Pittsburgh | Oregon | Washington | Colorado |
| Kendall Smith (12-6) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington | Colorado State |
| Mike Uva (12-6) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington | Colorado |
| Jack Veltri (12-6) | Kansas State | Alabama | Missouri | Florida | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington | Colorado State |
| Chris Wellbaum (11-7) | Arizona | Alabama | Missouri | Texas A&M | West Virginia | Oregon | Washington State | Colorado |
