How the Gamecocks get to 9-3
Two months before the South Carolina Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers meet at Death Valley, they almost literally cross paths in a small town with a big stadium. It's safe to say that more South Carolinians will visit Auburn this September than in any month since time and football began on roughly the same Saturday afternoon.
Historically, however, South Carolina and Clemson do not fare well against SEC teams from Alabama.
This could be the year.
South Carolina is more than capable of challenging Florida in a watered-down SEC East. After Auburn, the Gamecocks have two weeks to prepare for Nick Saban, Inc.
South Carolina
Sure wins * Furman (Sept. 18) * Troy (Nov. 20)
Sure losses None
Probable wins * Southern Miss (Sept. 2) * at Kentucky (Oct. 16) * at Vanderbilt (Oct. 23) * Tennessee (Oct. 30)
Probable losses * Alabama (Oct. 9) * at Florida (Nov. 13)
Helmet scratchers * at Auburn (Sept. 25) * Arkansas (Nov. 6) * at Clemson (Nov. 27)
Barometer game * High noon vs. Ga. (Sept. 11)
Record: 9-3 and the SEC's new Gator Bowl slot or better.
Clemson
Sure wins * North Texas (Sept. 4), * Presbyterian (Sept. 11)
Sure losses None
Probable wins * Maryland (Oct. 16) * N.C. State (Nov. 6) * at Wake Forest (Nov. 20)
Probable losses * at Auburn (Sept. 18) * at Florida State (Nov. 13)
Helmet scratchers * at North Carolina (Oct. 9) * Georgia Tech (Oct. 23) * at Boston College (Oct. 30) * South Carolina (Nov. 27)
Barometer game * Miami (Oct. 2)
Record:7-5 on the way to a bowl win.
The Citadel
Head coach Kevin Higgins has rarely been so eager for on-field football drills to start after the sordid off-season Miguel Starks incident and arrest. So what a great time to open against the Chowan Hawks, the pride of Petersburg, Va.
Record: 4-7
CSU
Jay Mills' underrated program once again proved itself in 2009, defeating or hanging close with the best of the Big South while finishing 6-5 overall and 4-2 in the league. This might be Mills' best offense, led by dynamic do-everything wide receiver Gerald Stevenson. This is the Bucs' toughest schedule: Road trips to Hawaii and Kentucky, a home against Wofford and road games against Big South favorites Liberty and Stony Brook.
Record: 6-5
S.C. State
Big year for the Bulldogs. Former head coach Willie Jeffries was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, S.C. State is the favorite to win its third straight MEAC championship and Buddy Pough's latest powerhouse opens with a bang - at Georgia Tech. Quarterback Malcolm Long set four school passing records as a junior.
Record: 10-1 before rolling into the FCS playoffs.
Furman
Junior cornerback Ryan Steed of Mt. Pleasant (Pinewood Prep) was All-Southern Conference as a sophomore but one of the goals for Bobby Lamb's Paladins is for Steed not to have to make as many tackles this season.
Record: 5-6
Wofford
The usually scrappy Terriers plummeted to 3-8 last season but a soft schedule this September makes for a 3-0 start going into an unusually early Furman (home) game. If quarterback Mitch Allen improves enough within Mike Ayers' Wingbone offense and Wofford can avoid the injury bug of 2009, look for vintage overachievement.
Record: 7-4
Coastal Carolina
The Chanticleers righted themselves after a 1-4 Big South dip in 2008 to go 5-6 overall and 3-3 in league play. There is hope and talent at quarterback with Aramis Hillary transferring from South Carolina to join Zach MacDowall and former Wando High School passer Jamie Childers.
Record: 4-7
Gene Sapakoff is a columnist for the Post and Courier in Charleston.