South Carolina College Football Predictions 2010

The South Carolina Gamecocks went 7-6 last season

, including a 3-5 mark in SEC play. Head coach Steve Spurrier was brought here to resurrect this program, but he is just 35-28 in five seasons. With eight offensive and seven defensive starters back from a team that lost 7-20 to Connecticut in the Papajohns.com Bowl, this should be a very motivated Gamecocks squad to start the season.

Take a look below for a preview of the offense and defense that South Carolina will be putting on the field this season. Want a more detailed preview of this conference? Take a look at our 2010 SEC football predictions article. South Carolina is +800 to win the SEC according to the college football odds.

Offense:

For the Gamecocks to improve on the woeful 20.6 points per game they scored a year ago, they must get better play from junior QB Stephen Garcia. He has had two years to grasp Spurrier's system, and could be primed for a breakthrough 2010 campaign. To help out Garcia, the offensive line and running game must improve. South Carolina finished dead last in rushing in 2009, and the offensive line has given up way too many sacks in recent seasons.

Though Garcia threw for 2,862 yards last year, he managed to complete just 55 percent of his passes. With a better effort on the ground, he would certainly be more efficient as the opposition then wouldn't be able to just pin their ears back and come after him. Sophomore running backs Kenny Miles and Jarvis Giles figure to get the bulk of the carries, but freshman Marcus Lattimore is doing his best to get on the field after serving as South Carolina's Mr. Football in high school last season, making him one of the top recruits in the country. Sophomore WR Alston Jeffery was a stud late last season, catching 41 balls over the team's final eight games. Freshman Ace Sanders has big-time potential as a slot receiver. Junior Jason Barnes and sophomore Tori Gurley also will figure into the WR rotation.

Defense:

South Carolina has become and excellent defensive team over the past few years. They gave up just 20.4 points per game last year and 300.7 total yards per contest, with the latter ranking 15th in the nation. The secondary was the strength of this defense last year, giving up just 163.0 passing yards per game which ranked 8th in the country. Three starters return at this level, led by sophomore CB Stephon Gilmore. He is primed for a big NFL career in the future. Akeem Auguste returns and will convert to safety, while Chris Culliver is the third returning starter and he'll swap places with Auguste, moving to cornerback.

DE Cliff Matthews has proven himself as a solid pass rusher, but the Gamecocks must find someone opposite him. Devin Taylor is expected to get the nod. LB Shaq Wilson is, pound for pound, one of the toughest at his position in the SEC. He returns for his junior season, while the Gamecocks get MLB Rodney Paulk back after tearing a knee ligament in the season-opener last year. His return is a huge boost to the linebackers.

SEC Prediction: 3rd East Division - At times, the Gamecocks looked like they could beat anyone last year. But at other times, such as their 7-20 loss to Connecticut, South Carolina seems to play to the level of their competition. With so much returning experience and a solid recruiting class that features RB Marcus Lattimore, the Gamecocks could take the next step this season. The East is down a bit as many don't know what to expect from Florida or Georgia. So if Garcia can come into his own finally while also getting help from the running game and offensive line, the sky is the limit for the Gamecocks in 2010. I have them pegged at third place in this division but would not be surprised to seem them finish second or even first if a few things go their way.

South Carolina College Football Predictions 2010

By: Jack Jones

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