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Previewing South Carolina at Kentucky: Three Keys to Victory, What It Means, and Prediction

Al Messerschmidt - Getty Images

3 months ago: COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 9: Quarterback Stephen Garcia #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks sets to pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide October 9, 2025 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

We've got your USC-UK preview right here, folks.

Three Keys to Victory

3. Randall Cobb

The multi-talented Kentucky WR / QB / KR is the guy to keep your eye on when UK has the ball. He's by far the most explosive player on the team, and you'll likely see Kentucky try to ride him into contention in this game. If Derrick Locke doesn't play, though, it may be too much of a load for Cobb.

2. Run the Ball

If Gwinnett and Skulls didn't give it away today, we here at GABA like Marcus Lattimore to have a good game tomorrow. The 'Cats have a woeful run defense, and as long as our offensive line plays somewhere in the distant vicinity of how it played against 'Bama last week, we should have no trouble moving the ball on the ground against UK. If we can do that and keep our defense off the field and fresh and Kentucky's defense on the field and fatiguing, we should be able to build a small lead by halftime that we can build on quite a bit in the second half as UK loses its wheels on defense. I could see this being a game where Lattimore runs for 150 or so and either Brian Maddox or Kenny Miles get another 50 when they come in with fresh legs in the fourth to grind the clock.

It should also be noted that relying on the running game should help us avoid the kinds of turnovers that can be fatal in a game like this.

1. No Letdown

We just beat Alabama, folks. The same team that beat Florida like a rented mule. Florida beat Kentucky just as badly. If we play close to our best, we should be able to win this one, likely with relative comfort. If we come out feeling entitled and / or turn the ball over a few times, we'll lose. It's that simple. Come ready to play, guys.

Star-divide

What It Means

Steve Spurrier and others have made a lot of the importance of this game over the course of the week. Kentucky won't be the best team we play, and a loss will hardly put the East out of reach. Kentucky is a dangerous team, though, and this game is a huge test for a team that still has a lot to prove. We've never had success like this before, and it's important to show that we can handle the burden. A loss in this game would negate a lot of the good will produced by the 'Bama game, and it would seriously endanger what right now looks like a very real possibility that we might win 10 games for only the second time in school history. It's not the most glamorous game of the season, but it's a big one.

Prediction

I've worried about this game quite about this week. However, after further reflection, I simply believe we're too good this year and that Kentucky, while dangerous, just doesn't have the horses to beat us, especially on defense. This one might be close throughout the first half, but a deeper Carolina team will ride a powerful running game to a convincing victory in the second half. I predict a score in the vicinity of 38-20.

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Comments

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I think we’ll really stress the run tomorrow, like you say in Key 2. I’m looking for the score to fall in the same region you’re predicting. I think there’s a chance, though, that we run so much and eat clock that it’s lower scoring.

by Skulls and Spurs on Oct 15, 2025 10:12 PM EDT reply actions  

Yeah, I could see that.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Oct 16, 2025 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

I really look forward to Maddox checking into games this year.

He’s fighting hard for every half yard he can get. He also looks a lot faster and shiftier this year. I love those all heart type players. They’re fun to watch. You never know when they’ll jump and kick a dude in the face, or push back half the defense on the ground for a few extra yards.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Oct 16, 2025 6:04 AM EDT reply actions  

Agreed

Championship teams rely on efforts from everyone … star or journeyman. As much as I want to see Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery succeed, I’d also like to see ball distribution to Brian Maddox, Kenny Miles, Pat DiMarco, Tori Gurley, Jason Barnes, Dieon LeCorn, Ace Sanders, etc., etc. (sure Im leaving someone out!) …

Not criticizing the coaching or play-calling … just hoping more guys get involved in scoring as the season progresses …

Specifically to Brian he is having a great senior season …. agreeing to split time as FB shows a team-first attitude that was rewarded with some good carries and PT during Bama game when Marcus was out with the elbow stinger …

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Oct 16, 2025 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, it’s tough for others to get touches when Jeffery gets the ball thrown up to him every time he’s isolated on one defender. I hate to see so many good receivers behind Gurley and Jeffery go to waste, but oh well. Sherman has all but disappeared from his role of catching screen passes. Miles rarely gets on the field. It’s just that Lattimore never seems to tire, and Jeffery catches almost everything that comes his way.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Oct 16, 2025 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

the scary thing is ...

that we’ve shown so little of our offense that I have no idea what were capable of beyond the athleticism of Marcus and Alshon.

I didnt get to watch the second half of the Auburn game (probably fortunate for the hotel we were staying in and my credit card holding the room deposit!) but jeesh - from what I have seen - our biggest offensive flairs came in the Southern Miss game. We haven’t run anything trickier than that the fake reverse hand-off to Sanders against the Golden Eagles.

Watch for Joker to pull every trick in the book tonight - flea flickers, fake reverse, throw backs, laterals, fake FG ….

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Oct 16, 2025 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, they pulled out a lot in the SMU game.

After that it has been pretty mellow. I’m worried Jeffery is going to use his huge success this year to get into the NFL draft, like Sidney Rice did after two years. That’s the downside to giving him a lot of touches. Maybe there will be a lockout next year and no draft. I don’t care, my pro team is winless anyway.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Oct 16, 2025 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

Im not up on NFL rules

but didnt Sydney take a gray-shirt/red-shirt FR year with an injury … so that he was a RS FR his first “year” and a RS Soph his second year, but in fact had been with the team the minimum three seasons, in actual fact, and thus was draft eligible? Whereas Alshon is “true” Sophomore and needs a third season to be eligible for the Draft?

If he stays for 2011, I’m resigned that Alshon will declare before he uses up all 4 years. Ditto Marcus. I can’t fault them a bit, much as I’d love them stay.

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Oct 16, 2025 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

Maddox has clearly lost a few pounds and is playing a more diversified role in the offense this year.

Last year, we did little other than run him up the middle. He seems to be shiftier on the outside this year. I look for him to get some major yards on the ground tonight if we can build a significant enough lead to sit Marcus for an extended period of time.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Oct 16, 2025 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

Oh, I had never heard the rule that a player had to play a certain number of years before being draft eligible.

I just looked it up and you were mostly right. They have to wait three years after graduating from high school, or after their class graduated from high school in the case they themselves didn’t graduate. It has to do with how many years since graduating rather than how many years of college experience, but same difference.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Oct 16, 2025 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

so basically you got to find something to do for 3 years

between h.s. and NFL. I only was aware of it because of the whole Maurice Clarett fiasco … when he left Ohio State after two years and couldn’t go into the NFL.

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Oct 16, 2025 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm not even sure Kentucky fans know there's a football game today.

All they want to talk about is basketball. I hope the rest of their school is thinking the same way. Let’s roll over this piece of gravel and get to some school who actually cares about football.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Oct 16, 2025 9:07 AM EDT reply actions  

I was thinking the same thing

go to Sea of Blue. The first five posts are on Midnight Madness and Coach Cal. One of the hoops threads had 131 comments … I don’t know if they’ve had 131 comments total during the gridiron season. You’d be hard-pressed to see that the ’Cats are in the middle of a make-or-break three SEC game homestand where if the ball bounces the same way, they could have gone 3-0 and have a legit shot at 2-1.

So here’s the $64 question … are the ‘Cats likely to be more pumped tonight to cheer on the Blue and White now that they’ve gotten an infusion of hoops fever? Or now emotionally ‘done’ with football? Serious question.

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Oct 16, 2025 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions  

I hope I see a lot of empty seats.

That’s all I care about.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Oct 16, 2025 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

Wish i was there *sigh*

looks like it will be very cool and clear. Perfect football weather.

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Oct 16, 2025 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

It's Big Blue Madness for them.

They care about football…but it’s comes in a distant second place to basketball, which is beginning to get geared up right now.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Oct 16, 2025 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

I should say I don't really begrudge them too much...

Alabama has football, Kentucky has basketball. They have a reason to be proud of their traditions.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Oct 16, 2025 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions  

Some schools can handle two major sports.

And, yeah, our basketball team won’t be so kind this season either. Go ahead and chalk up two more losses for your Cocks.

by JorgePancho on Oct 17, 2025 5:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

Stat of the Night

UK has now won 3 of the last 4 football games on Midnight Madness Weekend. The others? #1 LSU in 2007, and at Auburn last season. Basketball season only fires up the fan base, much to the chagrin of opponents on this weekend.

by JorgePancho on Oct 17, 2025 5:09 AM EDT reply actions  

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