The South Carolina Gamecocks, in its 19th season of Southeastern Conference football, will play for their first SEC Championship on Saturday as the Gamecocks will face the top ranked Auburn Tigers in the 2010 SEC Championship.
The Gamecocks (9-3, 5-3 SEC) are the SEC Eastern Division Champions for the first time in school history, and are coming off a 29-7 victory over archrival Clemson last Saturday. Auburn (12-0, 8-0 SEC) is the SEC Western Division Champion for the fourth time, and overcame a 24-point deficit to win the “Iron Bowl” over Alabama last Friday, 28-27.
The Gamecocks will be seeking their first conference crown since their first, and only, in 1969 with the ACC Championship. Auburn will be seeking their seventh SEC Championship overall.
What is certain is this game will be as good as the last and as advertised between these two teams. Just a little over two months ago the Gamecocks traveled to Jordan-Hare Stadium, built a 20-7 lead, had a six point lead in the 4th quarter, and let it all slip away with four turnovers in the final 15 minutes of play. In game one, Cam Newton and the University of South Carolina beat the University of South Carolina.
Now it is different as this is for all the SEC marbles as “winner takes all.” Here are five things that must happen for USC to knock off Auburn, win this re-match and win the 2010 SEC Championship…
1. SC Must Find Success Running The Ball
Marcus Lattimore only had 33 yards rushing the first go ‘round on The Plains against Auburn, and he will have to be much more of a factor for the Gamecocks in this one. It is also important to note that Auburn’s rush defense is only giving up 108 yards per game.
USC is 8-1 this season when they rush for 100+ yards in a game, 35-9 in Steve Spurrier’s six seasons as head coach. South Carolina, fueled by Lattimore must get 100+ yards rushing on the ground against Auburn.
2. Gamecocks Must Pressure Cam Newton
The Gamecocks, led by their front four on the line, set a school record of 39 sacks for the year. That is an average of 3.3 sacks per game. Against Auburn, the trend of getting to the opposing quarterback must continue. Cam Newton cannot have time to sit back and pick apart the Gamecocks secondary. Carolina must disrupt Cam to have success in Atlanta.
3. Alshon Jeffery Must Shine
Gamecocks wide out Alshon Jeffery leads the SEC and is fifth in the nation in receiving yards per game with 112.6 yards per contest. He is second in the league and tied for 22nd nationally with 6.3 receptions per contest. Alshon must step up big in this game against Auburn; he needs at least 90 yards receiving and a score for USC to claim the crown.
4. Carolina Pass Attack Must Attack
Auburn is last in the SEC in pass defense. They are giving up 250-plus yards per game through the air. Stephen Garcia has been efficient this year and has done a good job, post Auburn, of protecting the ball. Garcia has completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 581 yards, 4 touchdowns during USC’s current 3-game winning streak. And he hasn’t thrown a pick. For Carolina to win this game, Garcia and the Gamecocks must have success in the air.
5. Gamecocks Must Step Up With Red Zone Defense
A big reason for Carolina’s success has been its red zone defense. Opponents have been held scoreless in 12 of 39 trips inside the Carolina 20-yard-line, ranking the Gamecocks sixth in the country in that category. For the Gamecocks, they must show why they are one of the best in this category.
6. Gamecocks Must Convert Third Downs
Keep the chains moving and keep Cam Newton off the field.
USC is 12th in the nation in converting third downs as the Gamecocks have kept the chains moving 49.7% of the time (77 of 155). For South Carolina to beat Auburn, converting third downs is crucial as the best defense is a good offense.
7. Spurrier Must Be Spurrier
The Ol’ Ball Coach must show he still has the mojo and that it is back.
Spurrier has a 3-1 record in the Georgia Dome as the representative from the east. Spurrier has been here before, he knows what it takes, and he knows how to win. The Gamecocks will pull out all the stops Saturday night, and there could not be a better spot for Spurrier to climb back on top.
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