#9 South Carolina Gamecocks (7-1, 5-1 SEC) vs. #7 Arkansas Razorbacks (7-1, 3-1 SEC)
The #1 vs. #2, LSU vs. Alabama tilt will get all the publicity this week, but this game is still another premier SEC West division match-up. It is very seldom that such a good game against two Top 10 teams will get lost in the shadows.
Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville AR
Saturday, Nov. 5, 7:15 pm EST
NCAA Odds from Sportsbook.com:
MoneyLine: Carolina +175, Arkansas -210
Spread: Carolina +5, Arkansas -5
Over/Under: 53
This pair of one-loss teams are major players in the SEC and each have encountered their trials and tribulations in 2011.
South Carolina has had consecutive peaks to climb at the quarterback and running back positions. Oft-troubled starting QB Stephen Garcia was finally kicked off the team a few weeks ago, just as the Gamecocks’ offense was getting used to new starter Connor Shaw, bell-cow RB Marcus Lattimore went down for the season with a knee injury. New freshman starter Brandon Wilds is talented, but still must prove himself, as Lattimore has soaked up virtually every carry for the Carolina attack in the past couple seasons. Carolina still has a pair of remarkable athletes in WR Alshon Jeffery and DL/LB Melvin Ingram, both of whom are ready to spring an impact play at any time.
For Arkansas’ part, a superb passing game has had to carry the load because the RB position has been decimated by injuries throughout the year. Third-stringer Ronnie Wingo had to fill in for most of the year, with serious injuries to starter Knile Davis and back-up Broderick Green. It is a good thing that QB Tyler Wilson is tearing it up; the Hogs are averaging over 320 pass yards per contest and Wilson sits at 2,327 yards and 13 TDs on the year. Wilson has a talented flock of wideouts to throw to, emphasized by Jarius Wright (44 receptions, 709 yards, seven TDs) and speedster Joe Adams (37, 453 and a score). [soliloquy id=”82219″]
This is a game where the homefield advantage in the foothills of the raucous Ozarks may make a profound difference. The Hogs’ faithful are pretty crazy and they sense that they have a very good team this season. For the traditionally run-heavy Gamecocks, Wilds has a serious task ahead of him in replacing Lattimore, probably the best RB in the conference not named Trent Richardson. If Wilson can spring the offense for a couple sustained drives early in the game, Arkansas can build a lead and then lather the pressure on Shaw. That could certainly be an effective formula for securing a home victory.
Shaw and Wilds are capable of making plays for Carolina, and Arkansas will have to do whatever it can to contain Jeffery. A huge x-factor for the game may be Ingram on defense; the guy is dynamic enough to secure a turnover by any means necessary – including an interception – and in a close SEC game a big defensive play can often swing the momentum decisively. If the Hogs secondary keys in on Jeffery and Wilds is unable to get to the second level, the Gamecocks’ offense could sputter.
Though the Hogs have had the oft-injured backfield in 2011, the players are finally back healthy now, so it makes an already dangerous attack much more versatile. As the Arkansas offense is so quick-strike, it means the defense only has to be good rather than great, not unlike the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts of a few years ago (though certainly not this season!)
South Carolina has certainly had its share of internal strife, but to the Gamecocks’ credit they have rolled with the punches and found ways to win games. They will have to get creative once more if they are to travel to Fayetteville and return to the East division with an eighth win secured.
Expect the Hogs to get a couple early touchdowns on the arm of Wilson en route to another win and another assertion that the West division is vastly superior to the East in the SEC.
Score Prediction: Arkansas 28, South Carolina 24
Over/Under Prediction: 52
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