Optimism is running high in Columbia and desperation rampant in Gainesville. That all may change in three hours Saturday night. The Gators could very well win this game. Here's how:
Gamecock Overconfidence
The talk all week in Columbia has been solely focused on how big South Carolina is going to win. Match-ups and analysis have taken a back seat since it seems a victory is a foregone conclusion. That's fine for radio shows and blogs, but it's not ok for players and coaches. You hope that kind of complacency doesn't seep into the team's psyche, but it could, and if it does, it is dangerous.
Florida's Defense
The Gators have been painted as a shell of their former self, and to an extent, that is an accurate. However, the defense is still the best defense in the conference in most categories, and #2 in the others. That simply cannot be discounted. The Gator defense may keep them in the game, and if they do anything can happen.
Turnovers
Turnovers completely change games, and they distort the way we think of games after the fact. Take the last two games the teams played. South Carolina was the recipient (cause?) of 5 turnovers from Mississippi State. Without those how close is that game and how good does Carolina feel about itself? Florida turned the ball over 4 times against the Commodores. Again without that, what happens in that game? And, scarier still, what happens if South Carolina is -2 or -3 in turnovers?
We're not above losing games like this
In an objective analysis, South Carolina should win this game. Vegas thinks it should be a double digit victory, but South Carolina's program hasn't quite reached the point where they always win the games they should. See Tennessee 2013, Auburn 2011 and Kentucky 2010.
Tomorrow we'll have Half Full, the reasons to be optimistic.
