Week 5: LSU

The logo on the side of the helmet and history says SC should lose this game. The Gamecocks have only beaten LSU twice in 21 attempts, with both being one point victories (‘30 and ‘94). The stars next to the names on the roster say SC should lose this game. Almost every starter in the LSU secondary was a 5-star recruit. At the beginning of the week I told myself I would not pick the Gamecocks to win this game. We’ve all been let down too often in the past after big wins.

But then LSU’s starting QB was ruled out. And then LSU announced self-imposed penalties for various violations, providing a potential distraction. Now it is being reported that the starting left tackle has left the team. I realized that LSU is currently 1 - 2 against what will likely end up being the worst 3 teams in the SEC. I’m not sure what exactly has befallen the LSU defense this year, but South Carolina appears to be playing better football to date. I’m going to go with South Carolina against an struggling LSU team rolling out a true freshman QB for their first ever college football snaps.

Prediction: USC 31 - LSU 23

USC 30 - Auburn 22: Thoughts on the Win

A Long Time Coming

Auburn is not a very good football team. They are certainly in the midst of one their down years that seems to happen about every 3 or 4 years. Doesn’t matter though. Auburn is one of the blue-blood programs in the SEC, and anytime you can take one of those programs down it enhances the perception of your own. A lot of great SC teams earlier in the decade were unable to take down mediocre Auburn teams. It was fantastic seeing this year’s version beating Auburn for the first time since ‘33.

The Gamecocks really needed this one, especially after the opening loss to what appears to be a very bad Tennessee team. In every game this season the Gamecocks have fought hard, and have shown improved play each week so far. The conditioning level of this team appears to be excellent as well, as they consistently get better as each game progresses and are currently dominating teams in the 4th quarter. I’m not sure what this win means in the big scheme of things or what it says about the future of the program, but the Gamecocks certainly have to start winning games like these to become relevant.

Teriyaki Chicken Wings

Guys most responsible for the win get wings.

Jaycee Horn

I’m not sure I can remember a more dominating performance by a cornerback in a Gamecock uniform.

Shi Smith

Keving Harris

Biggest surprise of the season. Another consistent performance from a big-time SEC running back.

Kier Thomas

Played with maximum effort, getting 2 sacks, and also made a critical stop to prevent a long run on Auburn’s final drive.

Shilo Sanders

Led the team in tackles with 10.

Deshaun Fenwick

Made some big-time runs coming off the bench

Hopefully the Gamecocks will be able to keep up the momentum and take down another SEC blue-blood that’s having a down year this week. Go Cocks.

Week 4: Auburn

I’ve sometimes heard Clemson described as ‘Auburn with a lake’. If I knew nothing else about Auburn, that would be enough. But I flew all the way from Tokyo to Atlanta in 2010 to watch (S)Cam Newton destroy the Gamecocks, and Auburn is one of the most notoriously consistent cheats in the history of college football. That, too, is detestable.

The Gamecocks haven’t looked like a great football team this year. But they have been better than I expected. I think the Gamecocks match-up better along the lines of scrimmage. That’s more than enough for me. This Saturday will be the one game this season that the Gamecocks win one they shouldn’t.

Prediction: USC 34 - Auburn 24

Go Cocks.

2020 Season Preview

2020 has been one for the dustbin of history, and I think this year’s version of the the Gamecocks will end up finding a home there as well. Under normal circumstances I would be thrilled with a season that contained 10 SEC games. It has become harder and harder to stay up until 5AM to watch a match-up with a team like Coastal Carolina (or worse App State……), but weekly games against the SEC would be necessary viewing. This year, though, I just can’t get excited about football at all. I haven’t re-watched a single old game like I normally do in the summer, or even followed the happenings of pre-season much. It doesn’t help that I think we will be atrocious again on offense this year, mainly due to terrible WR play. I expect the defense to be the best we’ve had in years, and that will keep us close in a lot of games, but there are just not enough players at skill positions to score any points.

Who knows how many of these games will actually end up happening? Here’s how I see it if they do:

  • Tennessee - L

  • @ Florida - L

  • @ Vanderbilt - W

  • Auburn - L

  • @ LSU - L

  • Texas A&M - L

  • @ Ole Miss - W

  • Missouri - W

  • Georgia - L

  • @ Kentucky - W

If this team manages 5 wins this year Muschamp should get a parade. Not going to happen though. I’ll be watching tomorrow morning as the Gamecocks kick-off the season against Tennessee, but I’ve got other things to do with my life lately, so unless I get pumped about a big win I will likely not be posting much this year. I hope the Gamecocks surprise me, and win a few they shouldn’t in this crazy season. Go Cocks.

Week 14: Clemson

As I prepare a belated Thanksgiving feast this Saturday, I find that the thing I am most thankful for is that this putrid football season will be over in a matter of hours. The offense that the Gamecocks have trotted out on Saturdays this fall has been shameful. The actions of the board of trustees and President Caslen have been worse. Seniors like Bryan Edwards, T.J. Brunson, Donell Stanley, and Javon Kinlaw deserved better. So did the fans that put up $50M for a new football facility. I’ll be glad to get my Sunday mornings back from next week, and look forward to my unfounded optimism slowly building again as next season approaches.

Prediction: Clemson 35 - USC 3

Week 11: Appalachian State

I guess if someone forced me to pick a Group of 5 team to root for, it would probably be Appalachian State. I’ve been to Boone a time or two, and have a healthy respect for the consistent success they had in FCS and their amazingly successful transition to FBS. What I don’t have respect for is the bozo that scheduled a Home-Home-Home with App State. There is no reason at all for a middling SEC team to ever put the Mountaineers on the schedule. These guys are 2 weeks removed from a spot in the Top 25, but if the Gamecocks lose it will be considered a disaster. And playing a game at 1km altitude in 2025? That is insane.

The Gamecocks should dominate both lines of scrimmage in this game. I expect Appalachian State to out-scheme SC, however, and keep the game close. The line opened at -4.5 for SC, and has since grown to -6. I can buy that.

Prediction: USC 27 - App State 21

Week 9: Tennessee

After getting a win against another top 10 team stolen from them last week, do the Gamecocks have enough left in the tank to take down an improving Tennessee team in Knoxville? Spoiler alert: yes, I think they do. The defense has been consistently good against the run in recent weeks, and with Mauer out with a concussion, I don’t trust Guarantano to be able to win with his arm. Even though these aren’t the same Volunteers from the glory days of Tennessee football, beating Tennessee still goes a long way to determining a successful season in my eyes. I have just witnessed too many beat-downs in my formative years to have any love at all for the Vols. The Gamecocks have won 7 of the last 11 games in the series, and have a chance to win 4 in a row for the first time ever. I expect them to do it.

Prediction: USC 20 - Tennessee 13. Mrs. Teriyaki Chicken has it as 35 - 28 in favor of the Gamecocks.

Week 8: Florida

My, how a week can change things. After the massive upset in Athens last week, the Gamecocks have an opportunity to do something no other team has done in the history of the program: beat two Top10 teams in back-to-back weeks. A win here would also greatly increase the odds of SC making it to Atlanta for just the 2nd time ever.

I believe I saw somewhere that since 2000 14 teams have pulled an upset as 20+ point underdogs and then were an underdog the next week. Only 1 of those teams won the 2nd week, but I believe the other 13 teams all beat the spread. The Gamecocks opened around 7-point underdogs, but that gap has closed and is now 4.5 or 5-points. My general thoughts about Florida are they haven’t been a good team this season, but have found a way to keep winning. I do think they have improved a lot since the beginning of the season, but I still believe they are overrated at #9. Others must think so as well.

The weather is going to be a major issue in this game, and I think the rain will favor the Gamecocks. SC has a better rushing offense and defense than their Gator opposites. The Gators defense will really miss their two defensive ends in this one. I shouldn’t pick the Gamecocks to win given how inconsistent they have been, but they have won 3 of the last 4 in the series at Williams-Brice, and I’m starting to believe in this team.

Prediction: USC 24 - Florida 21. Mrs. Teriyaki Chicken has it as 28 - 21. Go Cocks.

USC 20 - Georgia 17: Thoughts on Win #3

A Signature Win for Muschamp

I did not see this one coming. I so expected the Gamecocks to lose that I didn’t even make a prediction for the game. The Gamecocks have beaten a total of three teams ranked in the Top3 in the history of the program. Considering the ~25-point opening spread, this was arguably the biggest win in school history.

This was the best the defense has looked since 2012, and the defensive line was able to dominate the line of scrimmage in Athens. The Gamecocks certainly didn’t play a perfect game, and they made plenty of mistakes that could have cost them the win. Looking back on the 3.5 years of the Muschamp era, the best way to describe the Gamecocks is as a team that just didn’t know how to win. South Florida 2016, Florida 2018, and North Carolina this year are clear examples of this. What we saw last weekend was a team finally playing with confidence, and grinding out a win regardless of circumstances. Playing a third-string QB with an injured hamstring? Win anyway. Missed gimme kick in the first overtime? Win anyway. After playing 90+ snaps, the Gamecocks defense held Georgia to zero yards in the second overtime period. The Gamecocks decided early on that they weren’t going to leave Athens without a victory. If that attitude continues this can be a special season.

Teriyaki Chicken Wings

I haven’t done this in while, but considering the gravity of the win, I’m handing out a dozen wings.

Israel Mukuamu

Had one of the most dominating individual performances in the history of Gamecock football.

Javon Kinlaw

Ernest Jones

Parker White

Missed so long kicks and some short kicks, but kept at it and scored the final points in the game.

Bryan Edwards

Rico Dowdle

Dakereon Joyner

Nick Muse

That’s all I’ve got. Gamecocks have a chance to put themselves in a strong position to win the division against Florida coming up. If the same team from last week shows up I expect them to get the win.


Week 5: Kentucky

It is obvious at this point that this year’s version of the Gamecocks is not a very good football team. Last week was one of the all-time worst offensive performances, and the defense has been incredibly inconsistent. Kentucky has beaten the Gamecocks 5 years in a row. Some of those losses were to superior Kentucky football teams, others were due to SC playing well below their potential. I can’t remember the last time the Gamecocks looked ready to play for a big night kick-off game at Williams-Brice, and this is one of the lowest energy teams I have ever seen. Despite that the Gamecocks find themselves favored by 3 points. Apparently the Kentucky QB situation is in pretty bad shape, and they can’t kick a field goal. Against my better judgement I’m picking the Gamecocks in this one.

Prediction: USC 28 - Kentucky 21. Mrs. Teriyaki Chicken has the Gamecocks winning 35 - 24.

Week 4: Missouri

The Mayor’s Cup is on the line in a burgeoning SEC East rivalry that has been fairly competitive. The Gamecocks have won three straight in the series, and are 5 - 2 since Missouri joined the conference in 2012. Missouri has generally been a good team over the course of a full season the past few years, but hasn’t been anything near consistent during the season (i.e. losses to Middle Tennessee, Purdue, and Wyoming). In terms of recruiting the Tigers have ranked 43rd, 43rd, 43rd, and 37th over the past 4 years. I’m not sure if that means that recruits from that region are underrated by the recruiting services or whether Missouri is really good at developing talent, because they certainly have outperformed those rankings. Still, I was surprised to see the line open at Mizzou -10. There is a high probability that the Vegas guys know more than me and Missouri is that much of a better team than SC, but I just don’t see it. In a rainy and quiet stadium I expect the Gamecock’s superior ground game to be the difference in this one.

Prediction: USC 38 - Missouri 31. Mrs. Teriyaki Chicken has it as 35 - 32 good guys.

Week 3: Alabama

Here’s some amazing facts about the South Carolina - Alabama series:

  • Since joining the SEC in ‘92, South Carolina has winning records against 2 teams from the SEC-West: Mississippi State (9 - 7) and Alabama (4 - 3). If Alabama didn’t get caught cheating about every 10 years that record would be 3-5, however (‘93 win forfeited, ‘05 win vacated).

  • The last win on the record books in Columbia for Alabama (taking into account the forfeited/vacated wins) is way back in 1946.

  • South Carolina is the last team from the SEC-East to beat Alabama and the only one with an active winning streak.

I expect all three of those facts to become invalid tomorrow. The 2010 team that ate Alabama’s lunch had 2 future pro-bowlers on the roster (Gilmore and Ingram) and were only something like 7 or 7.5-point underdogs. The line on this game is Alabama by 25.5 points, and for very good reasons. The Gamecocks just don’t have enough juice on offense to score much against Saban’s defense, which will confuse an inexperienced QB and Offensive Line. I expect Hilinski to throw at least 2 interceptions in the game. We can’t tackle well enough in the secondary to stop Alabama’s receivers, so it won’t matter much that Alabama’s running game has been somewhat worse than usual so far this season. A successful outing for the Gamecocks means showing some fight and keeping the game competitive, while getting to Sunday without any major injuries.

Prediction: South Carolina 20 - Alabama 48. Mrs. Teriyaki Chicken is more bullish on the Gamecock offense and has it as 35 - 42.

Week 1: North Carolina

Five years ago the worst South Carolina team since ‘99 handed the best North Carolina team since ‘97 their only regular season loss of the season. Gamecocks can thank Skai Moore’s 2 interceptions in the end zone for that one. North Carolina leads the overall series 34 - 19 - 4, but the Gamecocks are 12 - 4 since ‘67 and have won 6 of the last 7. The last time the Tarheels snagged a win was back in ‘91. When speaking about football, ‘Carolina’ refers to South Carolina.

On paper South Carolina should be much improved this season, particularly on defense. Depth and talent is present on the DL, new blood in the linebacking corps has boosted that position, and everyone in the secondary is currently healthy. North Carolina is debuting a 68-year old retread at head coach and a true freshman QB. The coordinator hires were top notch (Longo and Bateman), but this team has only won 5 games the past 2 years. The reports from NC pre-season scrimmages are that this team has looked like absolute garbage. This should be a perfect opportunity for Will Muschamp to lay a complete beat-down on an inferior opponent, but the results of the last meeting against a mediocre ACC team gives one ample reason to doubt. I think the Gamecocks are finally ready to put it all together, however, and make a statement in this one.

Prediction: South Carolina 38 - North Carolina 13. Mrs. Teriyaki Chicken has it as 35 - 25 Gamecocks.

2019 Season Preview

Football season is here again. Due to a combination of life events, age, distance, and the Gamecocks getting blanked by Virginia in the Belk Bowl, this was probably the least excited I have ever been in the off-season. Having said that, I think this is probably the best team SC will field since 2013. It likely won’t matter much though, as this is the likely the most difficult schedule in the history of the program. Hopefully the Gamecocks will finally be able to win one or two games that they shouldn’t.

Game by Game Predictions

  • North Carolina - W

  • Charleston Southern - W

  • Alabama - L

  • @ Missouri - L

  • Kentucky - W

  • @ Georgia - L

  • Florida - W

  • @ Tennessee - W

  • Vanderbilt - W

  • Appalachian State - W

  • @ Texas A&M - L

  • Clemson - L

I’ve got us at 7-5. I struggled picking a loss against Missouri, but although I think that is a game the Gamecocks should win, I just don’t see us going 8-4 against this schedule and it seems a lot of our past wins against Missouri have required divine assistance. I think Florida doesn’t have the depth to get through the season and will start struggling around halfway through, so I have SC winning what should be a toss-up. If the Gamecocks can get above 0.500 with a win against one of the teams they had no business beating, that should be considered a successful season.

Go Cocks.

Week 13: Clemson

Not much to say about this one, unfortunately. The Gamecocks are missing the two best players on Defense, Bryson Allen-Williams and D.J. Wonnum, and the secondary is still injury-riddled beyond all reasonable expectations. With their talent at the skill positions Clemson will be able to get the ball in space and score on nearly every possession. The good news is that the Offense has a chance to at least score some points this year.

I hate picking against the Gamecocks in this game above all others, but while Muschamp is doing a great job closing the talent gap, SC is still just too far away.

Prediction: USC 31 - Clemson 52. Miss Teriyaki Chicken is the optimist again, and has the Gamecocks winning 35 - 33.

Week 11: Florida

After winning consecutive games for the first time this season the Gamecocks are heading down to the Swamp this week to take on a struggling Florida team that is going to be trying to avoid it’s third straight loss. At this point in the season these two programs appear to be heading in opposite directions, in more ways than just the win column. Feleipe Franks has been atrocious this year, and rumor is that everyone associated with the Gators hate him, staff especially. Word is that a fight broke out in the locker room after Franks was laughing after the beatdown at the hands of Missouri, a game in which Franks was benched and then vastly outperformed by his back-up. Kyle Trask was on track to start this week, but will be out for the rest of the season after breaking his foot in practice, so the Gators appear to be stuck with Franks. It will be interesting to see how well the team plays for an increasingly unpopular QB. The Gamecocks have their own injury issues to deal with at Safety, but fortunately Franks hasn’t been accurate enough to be able to take advantage of that.

Florida is somehow ranked #15 this week. Vegas has the Gators favored by 6, but almost every single media projection I’ve seen has picked the Gamecocks in this one. I am as well.

Prediction: USC 27 - Florida 24. Miss Teriykai Chicken has the Gamecocks winning 35-28. After witnessing the past two games in person, I’m back in Tokyo this week and plan to use my lingering jet lag to wake up for this 2AM kickoff tonight. Go Cocks.

Week 10: Ole Miss

South Carolina and Ole Miss have amazingly only played each other 6 times since SC entered the SEC in 1992. With the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M to the conference in 2012 those meetings have become even less frequent, with the last trip to Oxford for the Gamecocks occurring a full ten years ago. The infrequency of this game is one of the main reasons I decided to get on a plane a little more than a week ago. I do not believe I was alone in my desire to make this road trip. Judging my the amount of garnet of black I witnessed in Memphis yesterday and in Oxford this afternoon, I expect the Gamecocks to have a good crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium tomorrow.

Get ready for some points in this one. The Ole Miss Rebel ….. Landsharks (???) have a very potent Offense that includes one of the best WRs in the SEC, one of the best O-lines, and a very mobile QB. They are only averaging 19 points per game against SEC opponents, however, and calling their defense hot garbage would be an insult to whatever was residing in the dumpster behind the Chili’s on Harbison Blvd back in August. The Gamecocks should find success both running and throwing the ball, but Ole Miss will get their points as well. I think the Gamecock Defense gets just a few more stops than Ole MIss and will fly back to Columbia with their first consecutive win of the season.

Prediction: USC 38 - Ole MIss 31. Miss Teriyaki Chicken calls it as 32 - 28 from Armenia.

Ohh, what could have been…….

Tennessee Victory Tour 2018

After witnessing the Gamecocks beat Tennessee for the first time in person, the family and I packed up our bags and embarked on a victory tour through the entire state of Tennessee, wearing nothing but South Carolina Gamecocks apparel the entire way. We crossed the border south of Chattanooga on Monday, and yesterday afternoon stood on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. A greater act of savage brutality has not been visited upon the peoples of Tennessee since the days of General Ulysses S. Grant.

A nice dusk view of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.

We also took the time the march directly through the middle of the Vanderbilt campus while covered head-to-toe in garnet and black. I attempted to lock eyes with as many people as possible.

Just inside these gates 22 chalk body outlines were still visible weeks after the Gamecocks had departed.

We finally completed our march of psychological destruction yesterday, and then went to eat some ribs.

The Mississippi River in Memphis, edge of the state of Tennessee.

Great state, this Tennessee. I hear there’s no state income taxes. Well, there’s no wins against the Gamecocks this year, either. Go Cocks.

Week 9: Tennessee

Prior to the 2008 season, SC’s record against Tennessee was 3-21-2. Since then the Gamecocks have turned the tables on the Vols and won 6 of the past 10 (and should have won 3 more). As a result of that previously abysmal record, circumstances, and a relocation to Japan, it turns out that I have never actually witnessed a Gamecock victory over Tennessee in person. So I got on a plane a few days ago to remedy that situation. I’ve therefore got a lot invested in the Gamecocks showing up to play later today.

I think South Carolina has the better team, and Vegas seems to agree, as they have the Gamecocks as more than 7-point favorites. SC finally gets D.J. Wonnum back, and I’m excited to see what kind of impact he can have on the Defense. The Tennessee O-line has been atrocious, and they’ll be missing their best player in Trey Smith. QB Jarrett Guarantano might possibly be out of this game with injury. I just don’t think think Tennessee will have enough to beat a rested South Carolina team at night at Williams-Brice, and I’ll finally get to see a win over the Volunteers as SC takes their 3rd game in a row in the series.

Prediction: USC 31 - Tennessee 20. Miss Teriyaki Chicken, who is currently in Azerbaijan for some reason, has the Gamecocks winning 38 - 17.