2008 Gamecocks Season Prediction

Here’s how I see our season going in 2008 with “light” analysis of each:

Sure Wins:
-Wofford-because it’s Wofford.
-UAB– Not enough talent to over top the gamecock d; will stick around for a half.

Probable Wins:
-NC State-Strength is running backs and receivers-we should be effective against both, especially the receivers given the strength of our secondary; no line on either side of the ball and a horrible secondary; a double digit victory is not out of the question.
-Vanderbilt– Loss of personnel makes them the Vandy of old; inexcusable loss last year anyway because Vandy was (and remains) under talented compared to USC; this is a revenge game and I would not rule out a blow out victory in Nashville.
-Kentucky– Another “celler dweller” with a loss of personnel. Way too many losses of talent to compete four quarters with USC. They really could have difficultly scoring but a serviceable defense could give us a few problems, but it will not matter in the end. Another conceivable 10+ point victory for the Gamecocks. Spurrier makes it 16 in a row.

Should Win:
-Ole Miss-Nutt’s rebuilding but is a scary good coach-you have to admit that even if you don’t like him; the Rebels have no offense to speak of, but scare me because we don’t seem to be able to find a way to beat these guys; all said, we have more talent and should come away from Oxford with a close win (less than 7 points).
-Arkansas-always play us tough but lost a ton of personnel and will be adjusting to a new system; this game may provide Spurrier with the opportunity to blast a “quality” SEC foe in front of a huge crowd at the Brice.

Toss Ups:
-Tennessee –Spurrier hates Phat Phil and the Gamecocks will have revenge on their minds after a close OT loss last year; talent gap has narrowed significantly and I see this one going either way (the winner takes it by three or fewer points)
-Clemson –If I was not sporting garnet colored glasses, I would put this one in the category below based on history and the talent differential. I don’t think the latter is that great, but it’s enough along with Clemson’s mental edge in this one to conceive of another loss to our rivals from the Upstate. However, the rivalry factor puts this one into the toss up category along with the fact that this game has been very close every year in recent memory with the Gamecocks last victory in Death Valley against a “more talented” team. Fact is, we have a more talented coach that could take Clemson’s players and kick our asses pretty bad. That intangible alone makes this one winnable. Like Tennessee, this one goes to one of the schools by three points or less.

Probable losses (but all winnable):
–Georgia — Admittedly, interchangeable above with Clemson as a toss up as we always play them tough early (and occasional win); I’m however drinking the cool aid that they’re the best team in the country; they were the best team at the end of last year and lost no one. I hate to say it, but this could be a 10+ point UGA win.
–Florida –– I think Spurrier will keep this one close, but Florida overwhelms us with talent. To say we will have to play our “A” game is an understatement.
–LSU –-lost their quarterback and some other key players, so this one is not inconceivable this year, especially in front of a home crowd. With that said, LSU has planty of potential “NFL talent” on the roster and will be formidable. However, out of the “probable losses”, I think this one is the most winnable. LSU will not be as good as Florida or Georgia this year.

THE LOHD SKINNY:

If we win the “wins”, “probable wins” and “should wins” (collectively, the “win” categories), we go 7-5. One slip up (which is conceivable) and we’re 6-6. If we take care of the “win” categories and win one toss up and upset a “probable loss team”, that’s 9 wins. This would be a special year in my opinion. At the end of the day, I think 6-6 is the worst the 08 team will do in any combination, and 10-2 in the best this team will do in any combination. So the record will be somewhere between 6-6 and 10-2. I predict 8-4, with wins against all of the “win” categories and a victory against Tennessee at home. That makes us 5-3 in the SEC and…..See you at the Chick-Fil-A bowl.