MIDSEASON REPORT: The Schedule from here
by cocknfire
on Oct 10, 2008 12:01 AM EDT
in Football
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The Midseason Report for South Carolina is up over at Team Speed Kills, but that's the "no homerism version."
South Carolina now stands at the midpoint of the season, and it has gotten to a 4-2 record in a roundabout way. The Gamecocks lost to Vanderbilt, but beat a resurgent Ole Miss. South Carolina defeated N.C. State 38-0, but didn't look dominant doing it. They lost to Georgia 14-7 just 10 days after falling to the 'Dores. And both the Wofford game and the UAB game were closer than they should have been.
Tommy Beecher was the starter for N.C. State, and Stephen Garcia has looked good so far -- but Chris Smelley is your quarterback. The defense is improved but, in a twist of irony, had a bad game against Ole Miss, whose defensive coordinator is Tyrone Nix.
And after that whiplash-inducing start, the goal should remain the same: Progress means winning eight games. And it's still possible, though maybe slightly differently than I first imagined.
| Original Call | Current Call | |
| at KENTUCKY | LIKELY WIN | TOSS UP |
| LSU | PROBABLE LOSS | LIKELY LOSS |
| TENNESSEE | PROBABLE WIN | PROBABLE WIN |
| ARKANSAS | LIKELY WIN | LIKELY WIN |
| at FLORIDA | LIKELY LOSS | LIKELY LOSS |
| at TEAM FROM THE UPSTATE | POSSIBLE WIN | POSSIBLE WIN |
The original call on the Team from the Upstate was probably a bit optimistic. This one might be a bit pessimistic -- but no reason to take any chances, right? The Tiggers look eminently vulnerable this year and might be looking for a new head coach by the time the Gamecocks visit. They might also be looking for their dignity, though, so the rivalry set-up could make them dangerous.
Kentucky looks harder, no doubt. Who knew they had a defense? But Tennessee looks just as bad as your humble correspondent thought they would be, and maybe worse. LSU looks stronger; I'm still not sold one way or the other on Florida.
So cheer up. The season can still be a success. But it has to start with a win against Kentucky.
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You should change the Upstate game
to reflect a Likely Win. That is a disorganized mess. Bowden looks like he’s not even trying anymore (did you see the 3rd and 24 last night from Wake’s own 8 yd. line? the trainwreck of offensive play calling?). I see an inverse relationship this year: It’s USC who turns it on late (rather than early), and it’s Clemson who gets worse and worse as the season progresses (of course, that’s not unusual for them). I know it’s a rivalry game, but that is a team that has no fight in them whatsoever, no heart to speak of, no leadership from either players or coaches, and if you punch them hard one good time they just fold.
by Stuck in the Plains on
Oct 10, 2008 8:25 AM EDT
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Clemson is looking rough right now. Bowden is probably out and he knows it. Is he even trying anymore? The players know their dreams of an ACC title are probably gone with this loss.
However, I’ll have to agree w/ cocknfire. Clemson’s foibles have never stopped them from bringing their A-game to the Carolina game. I’d also really like to see what we look like this weekend before I make any premature judgments about us having turned the corner against Ole Miss. One game does not make a trend. If I see continued improvement this week, then yeah, I think eight or nine wins and a victory over the Barney Tigers is likely.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on
Oct 10, 2008 9:07 AM EDT
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