Gamecocks Face Uphill Battle In Baton Rouge

The 12th-ranked (AP) USC Gamecocks are 16 point underdogs going into Saturday afternoon's game against #2 LSU in Baton Rouge.

Justifiably so. The Gamecocks are a shaky Number 12 at best, partially on the strength of their road win against then-11th-ranked Georgia, and because some Top 25 teams are early losers. Wins over Louisiana-Lafayette and South Carolina State help to make the Gamecocks 3-0, as good as the record could possibly be. But USC coaches are troubled about the personality of this team, especially on offense.

The defense performed admirably against Georgia. Some people believe USC sandbagged against Louisiana-Lafayette, and didn't play all that well last Saturday against S.C. State. But even if the defense plays as hard and well as it did against Georgia (and we believe it will), the balanced LSU offensive attack will be hard to stop.

But it's the offense that leaves the most question marks at this point. Blake Mitchell has looked like a deer in the headlights some of the time, despite being a fifth-year senior. As Coach Spurrier deftly pointed out this week, Mitchell isn't throwing well, isn't thinking well, and isn't reacting well. "He's waiting until receivers become open, and you can't wait that long. You have to have the timing down that you throw it where the receiver is going to be, and let him go to it."

If Mitchell doesn't even have that down, and if he still can't call audibles against LSU, the Gamecocks could be in for a world of trouble. The only way USC has proven it can really move the ball is by running it. But the LSU defense is giving up barely a yard per carry, and that doesn't bode well for USC.

I'm not saying South Carolina can't beat LSU Saturday afternoon; but I am saying South Carolina will have to play its best, and the QB play will have to be not only good, but exceptional. But mostly, the biggest reason South Carolina has a chance is because the Head Ball Coach is on the sidelines.

If USC can keep it close, Spurrier might be enough the win it. The question remains, however, whether the Gamecocks will even still be in the game come the start of the fourth quarter.