... - Sports - College - University of South Carolina

Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008

Gamecocks could have better season

Like most years, the Gamecocks' schedule is back-loaded, with most of the toughest tests coming down the stretch. A year after limping to the finish line, USC needs to find a way to survive its five-game gauntlet that begins at home against LSU.

• Aug. 28 vs. N.C. State: Tom O'Brien will try to get the Wolfpack on a faster track after going 5-7 his first season. O'Brien's biggest concern is a running attack that averaged only 89 yards a game in '07. ... USC, 27-20.

• Sept. 4 at Vanderbilt: Of the losses USC endured at the end of last season, the one that stuck with the players was a 17-6 defeat to Vandy. There is no way Steve Spurrier loses two years in a row to the Commodores. ... USC, 31-14.

• Sept. 13 vs. Georgia: After tune-ups against Georgia Southern and Central Michigan, the Bulldogs will arrive in Columbia as the No. 1 team in the country, looking to avenge last year's loss to USC between the hedges. The difference will be Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno. ... GEORGIA, 20-17.

• Sept. 20 vs. Wofford: Finally, a break in the schedule -- or not. The last time the Terriers came to Columbia, in 2006, USC needed a fourth-quarter defensive stand to hold on for a 27-20 victory. This game should not be close. ... USC, 38-21.

• Sept. 27 vs. Alabama-Birmingham: The Blazers, who have not had a winning season since 2004, will be facing their second SEC team in a three-game span following a Sept. 13 trip to Tennessee. This should be the rout Spurrier has been looking for. ... USC, 45-13.

• Oct. 4 at Ole Miss: This game got a lot more interesting when first-year coach Houston Nutt hired former Gamecocks defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix. This is a pivotal game for USC, which will get the win in one of the SEC's least-hostile environments. ... USC, 24-21.

• Oct. 11 at Kentucky: USC had to sweat out a victory two years ago at Commonwealth Stadium. No drama this time. ... USC, 30-14.

• Oct. 18 vs. LSU: The defending BCS champion's trip to Columbia is sandwiched between a visit to Florida's Swamp and a home game against Georgia. The LSU defense has not given up more than 20 points to USC since 1973. ... LSU, 27-13.

• Nov. 1 vs. Tennessee: The Spurrier-Phil Fulmer rivalry has been a little too friendly lately. Nothing like a Gamecocks win to change that. ... USC, 20-17.

• Nov. 8 vs. Arkansas: No Darren McFadden? No Felix Jones? No problem for Ellis Johnson's defense. ... USC, 35-21.

• Nov. 15 at Florida: A blocked field goal prevented USC from stunning the Gators two years ago in Gainesville, a win that helped vault Spurrier's alma mater to the national championship. The Gamecocks will do a better job of holding Tim Tebow in check, but it won't be enough. ... FLORIDA, 28-24.

• Nov. 29 at Clemson: The last two games in this series have come down to a Clemson field goal in the final seconds, with USC holding on for a 31-28 win at Death Valley two years ago. But there will be no letdown as the Tigers go for their 10th win in 12 years vs. USC. ... CLEMSON, 31-28.