Clemson VS. South Carolina Football: Game Preview

On Saturday at 12:00 the annual Battle of the Palmetto State will resume at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.  This seasons matchup between Clemson and South Carolina is one of the hardest to evaluate in recent years.  The Gamecocks come into the game 6-5 but they have lost 4 of their last 5 games.  Clemson is one of the hottest teams in America but the teams they have beaten on their six game winning streak have a combined record of 30-36 including 5-6 FCS team Coastal Carolina.
The reason this matchup is nearly impossible to gauge is the disparity in the schedules for these teams.  South Carolina has played 8 teams with a winning record while Clemson has only played 6, one of which is Middle Tennessee State.  The Gamecocks have played 6 of the top 50 defenses in the country including the #1 Florida and #2 Alabama while Clemson has only played 2 of the top 50 and 3 of the bottom 90.

The best I can do is to break these teams down position by position and let you chose for yourself who has the advantage.

Quarterback Stephen Garcia

The quarterback play will probably be the single most important part of this game on Saturday.  Clemson QB Kyle Parker has had his ups and downs in his freshman season but has played solid football lately and has flashed signs of brilliance, especially on the deep routes.  He has a cannon of an arm and athletic ability to boot.  Stephen Garcia has slowly grown into the quarterback the Gamecocks recruited three years ago.  The redshirt sophomore has emerged as an All-SEC performer and his leadership ability and healthy dose of “moxy” gives Spurrier his best chance at doing what he wants offensively since coming to South Carolina.  Statistically speaking the two are pretty comparable Garcia has 600 more yards on the season but he also has nearly 80 more attempts.  Parker leads in touchdowns 18-13 but he also has more interceptions.  To me it comes down to competition and experience.  Kyle Parker has only faced 2 top 50 defense, South Carolina is ranked 28th, and he averaged less than 150 yards per game and threw 2 interceptions and no touchdowns against those teams.  Garcia on the other hand has played 3 of the top 14 defenses in the country.(Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi)  He averaged 206 yards per game and threw 2 touchdowns against those top defenses.  Advantage…South Carolina(slightly)

C.J. Spiller

At running back the obvious advantage, to most observers, is Heisman Trophy candidate C.J. Spiller.  Spiller is clearly the biggest offensive weapon in the game.  He comes in with a chance to go over 1,000 yards rushing in a season for the first time in his career, and you can expect him to be motivated to do so.  But Spiller is actually a bigger threat to score as a kick returner or a receiver than out of the back field.  The truth is Spiller has as many negative plays as positive plays out of the backfield.  I think the Gamecock defense will breath a sigh of relief when they see C.J. running a simple dive play or even a slow developing off tackle run.  The Carolina running game has been much less efficient.  They have averaged 50 yards per game less than Clemson, but Kenny Miles and Jarvis Giles are actually averaging more yards per carry than C.J. Spiller.  Brian Maddox has played better recently and Patrick DiMarco is one of the best pure fullbacks in the conference.  It’s the Gamecocks commitment to the run that I question.  The difference maker at this position to me is Andre Ellington.  The freshman backup is averaging a staggering 6.9 yards per carry and has played really well as of late.  He is also an in-state boy from Berkeley High School who’s brother is coming to be a Gamecock next season, he understands the importance of this rivalry and I expect him to make a big difference in this game.  Advantage… Clemson

Wide Receiver Alshon Jeffery

Receiver is the one position that I give South Carolina a decided advantage.  Tight End Michael Palmer is Clemson’s most dependable receiver.  His ability to come across the middle and serve as a checkdown for Parker has been vital to this normally “All or Nothing” offense to keep the chains moving.  Wide receiver Jacoby Ford is the fastest man in college football, he has the ability to get behind any corner in the country and make a big play.  He leads the team in receiving with 654 yards and has 13 catches this season of over 20 yards, but his lack of size and true football player instincts at times makes him disappear from the offense.  Clemson has struggled most of the season to find another option opposite Ford, Spiller is actually their next best receiver, but Xavier Dye, Terrence Ashe, Marquan Jones and tight end Dwayne Allen have begun to play better during the Tigers win streak.  The Gamecocks, in my opinion, have the best receiving corps in the SEC.  Alshon Jeffery is maybe the best freshman wide receiver in the country.  The former Southern Cal recruit has put up 670 yards and 6 touchdowns and he didn’t even start until the sixth game of the season.  Senior Moe Brown has continued to be a solid and dependable slot receiver.  More importantly Brown is one of the emotional leaders of this team.  The Gamecocks receiving core is exceptional because of the match-up problems they create.  Weslye Saunders is an All-SEC tight end and at 6-5, 280 pounds and deseptively athletic he is hard for defenders to stop even when they get perfect position.  I expect this to be the week Tori Gurley re-emerges in the offense after being beat out by Jeffery.  This may be the first time we see the Alshon and Gurley on the field together, thats scary when you consider they are they are 6-3, 218 and 6-5, 227 pounds respectively.  Jason Barnes was considered to be South Carolina’s top target coming into 2009 but he fell down the depth chart early in the season.  He is back in the starting line-up and is beginning to demonstrate why I thought he had All-SEC talent.  Garcia also trusts D.L. Moore and Stephen Flint to be able to make plays when called upon.  Advantage…South Carolina

Offensive Lineman Thomas Austin

The offensive lines have been the achilles heels for both of these squads.  Clemson, however, has at least established a true starting five after suffering early season injuries and a little bit of player shuffling.  With All-ACC performer Thomas Austin at guard and solid left tackle Chris Hairston healthy this unit has improved every week, albeit against week competition.  Landon Walker, Mason Cloy, and Antoine McClain have all taken a mojority of the snaps this season and have been playing much better as of late.  With returning starters Jarriel King, Garrett Anderson, Terrence Campbell, and Heath Batchelor back most people expected and improved offensive line this season.  That has not been the case and none of those players will even start this weekend.  They are one of the leaders in the nation in sacks allowed and that is with a mobile quarterback .  They are slightly improved at run blocking but Miles, Giles, Maddox, and Garcia never have huge holes.  The biggest concern is the fact that the coaching staff has yet to find the right mix of players on the line.  They have shuffled in different players in different positions every week.  Freshman T.J. Johnson has been the lone constant at right guard.  No one can be sure of who will be on the Garnet and Black line this Saturday.  Advantage… Clemson

Defensive End Ricky Sapp

Clemson and South Carolina’s defensive lines are built to rush the passer.  Clemson is one of the leaders in the nation in sacks.  With defensive ends Ricky Sapp and DaQuan Bowers the line has accumulated 22 sacks this season.  The Tigers are 10 deep up front and Andre Branch, Mallicah Goodman, and Rennie Moore have also been able to get after the quarterback.  South Carolina has great speed coming off the edge as well.  Cliff Matthews, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury, has the ability to take over games.   Freshman Devin Taylor has played well at times and 6-8, 280 pound Clifton Geathers has started to show off his freakish talent late in this season.  The weakness of both these teams is up the middle.  Clemson and Carolina rank 42nd and 61st respectively against the run.  Jarvis Jenkins is the only true run stuffer on either team and the lack of depth for the Gamecocks should give Clemson the advantage against the run.  Advantage… Clemson

Linebacker Eric Norwood

Clemson’s linebacking core is a trio of solid, but in no way dominating players.  Kavell Connor has descent size and is a leader from his middle linebacker position.  Kevin Alexander who often plays down on the line has been one of Clemson’s best defensive players this season, but he is more natural at defensive end and can be exposed in passing situations.  Brandon Maye play’s fast, has good size and leads the team in tackles.  The Tigers biggest problem is the lack of depth at linebacker.  The Gamecocks only play two linebackers in their 4-2-5 scheme, but when one of those two starters is Eric Norwood you need to respect that unit.  Norwood, one of five finalist for the Butkus Award, is one of college football’s premiere pass rushers and has made more big plays than any defensive player in South Carolina history.  Shaq Wilson has filled in nicely for the injured Rodney Paulk and is leading the team with 73 tackles.  Wilson is a solid tackler but his size, 5-11 and 210 pounds, allows his to get pushed around by pulling guards.  Junior College transfers Tony Stroughter and Josh Dickerson provide solid depth.  Advantage… South Carolina

Strong Safety DeAndre McDaniel

The secondary is one of the most evenly matched positions in this game.  The young athletic Gamecock corners Stephon Gilmore, Akeem Auguste, and C.C. Whitlock almost never get beat in USC’s zone coverage or 1-on-1.  Free Safety Chris Culliver can also lock down on any receiver.  Safeties Darian Stewart, Alonzo Winfield, and Antonio Allen are very good in run support and freshman DeVonte Holloman and Damario Jeffery have flashed some impressive natural ability.  This unit has piloted the nations seventh best pass defense but has failed to come up with interceptions, many times dropping easy ones.  Clemson is not far behind with the tenth best pass defense in the country and they do intercept the ball, leading the nation with 20.  Corners Chris Chancellor, Crezdon Butler, and Byron Maxwell can all cover well.  Free safeties Reshard Hall and Marcus Gilchrist have both had very good seasons and “Ball Hawk” DeAndre McDaniel has been amongst the best safeties in the country and should get some All-American consideration.  Advantage… South Carolina(slightly)

Kicker Spencer Lanning, Holder Stephen Flint, Tight End Foxy Foxworth

The Gamecocks special teams have been a mixed bag.  Spencer Lanning is 15-17 on field goals this season and is fifth in the SEC in punting average.  But they are near the bottom of the nation at forcing touchbacks and pinning teams deep.  Stephon Gilmore has emerged as a solid punt returner, but they haven’t returned a kick to the house yet this season.  The Gamecocks also struggle at defending punt and kick returns, an area of the game that could kill the Gamecocks on Saturday.  C.J. Spiller is obviously what makes this Clemson unit “special”.  He is forth in the nation in kick return average, amongst players with 10 or more returns, and he has 4 special teams touchdowns on the season.  Jacoby Ford is also a very dangerous return man.  The Tigers kicking game on the other hand has been brutal.  Kicker Richard Jackson is only hitting 67% of his field goals despite going 6 of 6 against Boston College.  Punter Dawson Zimmerman has also been less than impressive with a 36.4 net average.  Despite the struggles in the kicking game i expect Clemson’s special teams to have the most positive impact on the game this weekend.  Advantage… Clemson

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney

Coaching logically should be a clear advantage for South Carolina with Steve Spurrier’s 176 wins to Dabo Swinney’s 12 wins, but it sadly for the Gamecocks is not.  Spurrier, since becoming “Head Ball Coach” at USC, has not been the same guy that used to stroll the Duke and Florida sidelines and his young inexperienced staff has a lot to prove.  Dabo, in his first full season, has been inspirational in turning around this program that Tommy Bowden had slowly broken down.  His players play harder and more consistent than any Clemson team since the Danny Ford era.  Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is one of the brightest young defensive minds in college football and offensive coordinator Billy Napier is, if nothing else, an original play caller.  Their is still a part of me that believes the ‘Ole Ball Coach has some tricks up his sleave after taking over play calling two weeks ago and I expect a better motivated Gamecock squad than in years past.  Advantage… South Carolina

Overall the teams are very evenly matched.  No team has a dominant advantage at any possition.  The biggest advantage to me is clearly C.J. Spiller where ever he lines up on the field.  But if South Carolina can slow Spiller down they can and will win this game.  That, however, is easier said than done.  With the ACC championship looming it is also impossible to gauge the mental focus of the Tigers.  They seem to always play their best against the Gamecocks but this years USC team in my opinion is the third best team on Clemson’s schedule.  The good news for South Carolina is that Clemson is 0-2 against the other two teams.

Clemson has a firm grip on this rivalry and I fully expect the Tigers to come out fired up and get their seventh win in eight years of the series.

Final Prediction: Clemson 24, South Carolina 20

By Charles Fritz, News.sc

For more on the Clemson/South Carolina rivalry

Check out Part 1 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 2 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 3 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 4 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 5 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 6 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 7 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

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