College Football Predictions – South Carolina Gamecocks 2017 NCAA Football Preview
2016 Recap
2016 Record – 6-7
2016 ATS – 6-7
Not a bad start.
HC Will Muschamp did well to get a very young and rebuilding team to a bowl game last season. The Gamecocks scraped together six wins during the regular season and almost SHOCKED THE WORLD in the Birmingham Bowl, but sadly, fell in OT to South Florida 46-39. South Carolina had gone just 10-15 over the previous two seasons so it appears that better times are ahead. Can it be this season ? Let’s dig in.
2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
SEC – TBD
East Division – TBD
OFFENSE
The Gamecocks finished up 2nd last in the SEC in total offense last season but really improved in the second half when QB Jake Bentley took over the starting gig. The Gamecocks put up 34,24,31,44 and 39 points in five of their final seven games. Bentley is back this season and has the look of an emerging star. South Carolina should be able to MATRICULATE in the passing game as they bring back their top-2 WRs and excellent receiving TE Hayden Hurst.
Overall, South Carolina has 10 (!) returning starters on offense and that includes their top-2 rushers from last season Rico Dowdle (764, 6 TD) and AJ Turner. Four of five starters are back on the offensive line but they will have to do better in pass protection (41 sacks allowed – LAST in SEC) and create more room in the running game.
DEFENSE
The Gamecocks did well to allow only 26.5 points per game last season. They allowed over 200 yards rushing per game and 60% completions while only bagging 21 sacks. How did they do it ? They were T3rd in the SEC in interceptions, T4th in fumbles forced and 5th in opponent red zone conversion %.
The defense should improve in the 2nd year under HC Muschamp and they bring six starters back for the 2017 campaign. Those starters include their top-2 tacklers from last season as well as a pair of really good senior CBs in Jamarcus King and Chris Lammons (15 PBU, 6 INT combined). The return of LB Skai Moore could really give the defense a lift. The Gamecocks will need to find a way to get more PENETRATION if they want the defense to take a big step forward.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Gamecocks have a question mark in the kicking game as they lose their leading all-time scorer PK Elliott Fry and need to break in a new punter. Deebo Samuel had a KR TD last season.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
HC Will Muschamp has a career 23-10 record at home (.697) but only 9-13 on the road (.375).
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 7.0
MEGALOCKS says:
Overall, we give the GAMECOCKS a 7.0 ATS Value Rating (Good) this season.
This has the look of a dangerous team. They have a fine young QB, lots of experience and a HC that will get them to play with the intensity of 10,000 white-hot suns. It may be a mistake to just assume these guys have no shot at upsetting the apple cart in the SEC East.
South Carolina last enjoyed a winning season vs Vegas back in 2013 and we feel a winning ATS campaign is likely in the cards in 2017. They could be especially spicy as conference underdogs.
Website
http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/scar-m-footbl-body.html
Forum
Free
http://www.cockytalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=27
http://gamecocknation.net/forum/2-gamecock-nation/
https://southcarolina.forums.rivals.com/forums/fighting-gamecocks-forum.10/
http://www.secrant.com/rant/gamecock-sports/
News
http://www.garnetandblackattack.com/
http://bleacherreport.com/south-carolina-football
http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/
https://www.seccountry.com/south-carolina/football-news/football
http://sportspyder.com/cf/south-carolina-gamecocks-football/news
Hashtag – #Gamecocks, #SpursUp
Accounts
https://twitter.com/GamecockFB (@GamecockFB)
https://twitter.com/DCTheState (@DCTheState) David Cloninger