The South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2, 5-2 SEC) will have their SEC finale against the Florida Gators (5-4, 3-4 SEC) set for noon on Saturday, Nov. 12. The game will be televised nationally on CBS. Carolina enters the contest ranked 15th in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches poll, and are 13th in the latest BCS Standings. The Gators are unranked.
Despite the Gators being out of the SEC East title race they are positioned to play a crucial role in helping to determine who the representative of the East will be. If they successfully upset South Carolina, then it’s Georgia’s. A Gators loss at the hands of USC, keeps the hopes of the “garnet & black” faithful alive for a SEC East repeat.
For South Carolina to taste gridiron glory, these five players will need to step up big for the Gamecocks against the Florida Gators:
Brandon Wilds, RB
The midseason injury to running back Marcus Lattimore left a cloud of doubt around the USC running game but in his absence freshman Brandon Wilds has filled in nicely.
In 2011, he has had 51 carries for 233 yards and one touchdown. He will need a hundred yard game and at least one score in this game versus Florida due to the fact that the run game for Spurrier’s offense determines overall success.
Connor Shaw, QB
Quarterback Connor Shaw is expected in the lineup this week after acquiring a concussion late in the game versus the Arkansas Razorbacks.
For the season, he has completed 63 percent of his passes for 710 yards and six TDs with four INTs. He needs to have a game that has him throwing for close to 200 yards and at least one touchdown.
Alshon Jeffery, WR
USC needs Alshon Jeffery to have a big game.
Jeffery averaged 17.2 yards per catch last year but is averaging 5.5 yards per catch in the last three games and 13.5 for the season. He had seven 100-plus yard receiving games last year but has none this year.
He needs a big game as it will open up the Gamecocks offense.
Antonio Allen, Spur
Antonio Allen is due back for USC after sitting out last week against Arkansas due to a neck injury. He should be good to go and this is good news for USC as he is a key plug in the Gamecocks defense.
Allen has 62 tackles with three INTs, three forced fumbles and three recoveries.
Jadeveon Clowney, DE
Jadeveon Clowney has been a little quiet of late and it is time for him to remind people why he is the best freshman defensive end in the nation.
For the season, he has five sacks, five quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles to go with 27 tackles.
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Florida leads the all-time series against USC 25-5-3. The Gators are 10-4-1 in Columbia. USC won last year’s game in Gainesville, 36-14.
The last time USC won back-to-back games against Florida came after wins in 1936 and 1939.
This is a must win game for South Carolina, but the Gators will definitely be looking for revenge for the beat-down the Gamecocks delivered in The Swamp last November.
The Gamecocks are coming off of a 44-28 loss at the hands of the Arkansas Razorbacks, leaving Georgia in the driver’s seat in the SEC East. If the Gamecocks are to make it back to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game, they will need a win over Florida and a Georgia loss to either Auburn or Kentucky in the next two weeks.
***To read about five other players, check this story we wrote –South Carolina Football: 10 Key Players for the Gamecocks vs. Florida
