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This game has not lived up to expectations for college football fans in the state of South Carolina. The South Carolina Gamecocks started the season in the top 10, and Clemson was in the top 20. Both schools had high hopes for the season with their sights set on the inaugural College Football Playoff.
South Carolina started out in disappointing fashion, getting blown out in Week 1 by Texas A&M. Not long thereafter, Gamecocks fans realized that this season might be more like a roller coaster than anything else with ups and downs spread throughout the year. Beating a then-No. 6 Georgia in Week 3 may have made up for the Week 1 struggles, but it was quickly overshadowed by a four-game losing streak in the SEC.
Clemson started slow as well in a blowout loss to Georgia and then an overtime loss to a Jameis Winston-less Florida State. Since then, the Tigers are 7-1 and have looked pretty good thanks in large part to the nation’s eighth-best scoring defense, giving up only 17.6 points per game.
South Carolina averages about 35 points per game on offense and will certainly not be intimidated by the Clemson defense after playing stiff competition throughout the season. The Gamecocks haven’t scored less than 20 points all year, and history looks to be on their side as well as they have won the last five contests against the in-state rival.
While South Carolina has been up and down all year, the team has seemed to play to its competition this season. When the Gamecocks went on the road to Auburn in late October, they almost left with a victory. It was obvious against Auburn and Georgia that the Gamecocks have the talent to compete with anyone in the nation, but they just don’t always do it.
If this game becomes a shootout, look for South Carolina to excel. Expect head coach Steve Spurrier to pull out all the stops to beat his rival a sixth straight time.
Prediction: South Carolina 45, Clemson 35
Jonathan Brannon is a College Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jbrannon89, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
