Scouting the SEC Championship Game: What to Expect When Carolina Has the Ball

by Gamecock Man on Nov 30, 2025 9:36 PM EST in Football

More photos » Mary Ann Chastain - AP

What will the OBC have up his sleeve for the Auburn game?

3. Spurrier's Cards Are Close to the Vest

In our last three games, we've (1) run the ball all night against Florida, (2) feasted on a cupcake against Troy, and (3) gone vanilla in the second half against Clemson when it became apparent that Stephen Garcia was hurt and that the Tigers wouldn't get back into the game if we didn't help them. Spurrier has not had to dig deep into the playbook over this stretch. That means that Spurrier has the advantage of coming into this game without Auburn being aware of what we've been working on in practice lately. Hopefully, Spurrier will be able to spring some surprises on the Tigers. This could be especially important if we have to depart from our usual run-first attack.

2. Stephen Garcia's Injury

Garcia got banged up (left, non-throwing shoulder and throwing thumb) against Clemson, and the word out of practice at the beginning of the week is that it's a little worse than originally thought. The coaches, though, believe he'll be ready to go at full speed. We better hope so, because...

1. Look for Us to Throw the Ball

Carolina has been most successful this year when it can get Marcus Lattimore churning out yardage on the ground. Unfortunately, very few teams have been able to run the ball well against Auburn's talented defensive front. That includes the Gamecocks when we played Auburn early this year. Lattimore rushed for 33 yards and a 2.4 ypc average in that game, his worst and second-to-worst averages of the year in those respective categories. Oftentimes, this would mean that Carolina is doomed, as we've had little success in games where Lattimore hasn't dominated. Luckily for us, as we learned last time around, you can throw the ball against Auburn. The Tigers rank 106th in the country in pass defense. (If you didn't realize how good the Tigers offense is before now, that number should make you realize it; how else could a team with such a poor pass defense be contending for a national title?) Garcia, before the late-game fumbles, was having one of the best games of his career against the Tigers. The truth is that he's probably going to have to be ready to do that again this week, only this time he's going to have to finish the deal. I hope we find a way to get Lattimore more involved this time around, but the facts say that you're not going to run against Auburn. Garcia and the receivers need to be ready to go.

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Read More: steve spurrier, gene chizik, Stephen Garcia (QB - South Carolina), Marcus Lattimore (RB - South Carolina), South Carolina Gamecocks, Auburn Tigers, Auburn Tigers at South Carolina Gamecocks, Dec 4, 2025 4:00 PM EST

Comments

I wish I had seen their game against Arkansas, ‘cause I don’t know how they pulled it off with a secondary ranked that low.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Nov 30, 2025 10:24 PM EST reply actions

The score was 65-43. That should tell you what you need to know.

Mallett didn’t play most of the game after getting hurt, but Auburn still couldn’t stop Arkansas’s passing game. However, Arkansas couldn’t stop Auburn either, and Auburn won the TO battle. TOs were the difference.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Nov 30, 2025 10:53 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I guess that would explain it.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Dec 1, 2025 1:45 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, that was the weekend of the UK game.

I was flipping back and forth between those games during our commercial breaks. Thought I took that loss well. I didn’t have the same of of troubles as this guy:

I watch the game at a bar, but was only about six beers in by the end of the game.

I go to the gas station in Richland, IA (home of…no one really), the only flavor of Four Loko they have is grape. (Remember this, you will be tested on it later). I buy two. I cracked open my first can, and the flavor did not remind me of grape. "Canned Ass" seems like a better name.

We go to a bar in Eldon, IA (Home of the "American Gothic" house!). If anyone knows anything about Eldon, you know this was a bad idea. Commence time traveling.

Here’s what I can piece together from multiple reports:

I brought my rugby cleats in to try to get everyone to "Shoot the Boot," no one did it, it probably didn’t help that…

I was apparently shirtless most of the night. In fact, I was shirtless so long that I actually lost my shirt and the bartender had to give me another one. (Note: Why was I shirtless? I’m 6’0" 300lbs, I have "Corn Fed" tattooed TuPac "Thug Life" style across my gut, and there is universal humor in a naked fat man.)

I tried to start a "fat man wet t-shirt contest" by pouring a pitcher of beer on myself, no one else wanted to play.

Here’s what I know from the following morning:

I woke up on my friend’s couch cuddling his Rottweiler.

My debit card was gone.

I was covered in change. I had no cash nor change when I left the bar in Richland. (Perhaps I used my debit card to get cash, then immediately converted the cash to change, and there were multiple denominations, then used the change as confetti in celebration of the fat man wet t-shirt contest.)

My pants were FILTHY!

My knee was bleeding, yet my pants were not harmed, which means that I fell on my knee, with my pants off, at some point in the night.

I had sent over 60 text messages, mostly such insightful stuff as "I luv yooo," "what is my name," "it’s so awful," and "W0000000!"

Finally, and I told you that you’d be tested, another unexpected surprise was that the 4 loko had turned my poop blue.

I found that on Black Heart, Gold Pants when i was checking out their activity yesterday.

- FOW

by skandrewj62j on Dec 1, 2025 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

Dear God.

I hope we never schedule Iowa for a home & home.

Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina

by The Feathered Warrior on Dec 1, 2025 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

Garcia may of taken a step forward

Although he was only 14 - 30 in the Clemson game, the one thing that stood out to me was that his throws were either going to be caught by the receivers or it was going out of bounds. If he can continue to do that and avoid turnovers Carolina has a pretty good shot.

by timmy_ on Dec 1, 2025 10:09 AM EST reply actions

He's been much better at avoiding turnovers lately.

His last INT was against Ark., and the problem there was lack of protection. On the season his TD-INT ratio is 18-9, which is pretty solid. He’s also taking less sacks. He’s only been sacked 20 times so far this year, compared to 36 a year ago in only one more game.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Dec 1, 2025 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

He has done better.

But if you look at the the losses, they have two things in common:

2 or more turnovers by Garcia

limited production from Marcus Lattimore

Now maybe the two are related, because they forced us to pass the ball and Garcia made a few mistakes. But it’s there.

Auburn, Garcia had a great game going before the two fumbles, we didn’t have Lattimore going on, so even after Connor Shaw was thrown in there, we had to throw when we got in or near the red zone.

Kentucky, Lattimore got injured and our offense became stagnant in the second half, granted one of the INT’s was on a desperation throw at the end of the game, it was still a pick.

Arkansas, the defense really didn’t help on this one. But, still 2 INT’s and limited production from Lattimore, 30 yds.

If Auburn loads up against Lattimore, it will slow us down but the turnover are what could kill us.

- FOW

by skandrewj62j on Dec 1, 2025 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

I think you're right about showing a vanilla playbook.

The reason we used the wild-cock in the Clemson game last year was because Stevie knew how important the game was and really wanted to give them the shaft. Also, other than the bowl game, there wasn’t anything meaningful left in the season to save it for. Fast forward to this year. We haven’t broken it out yet. I think this has less with the need to use it and more with saving it for a big game. If we are going to see it at all, this is where he would break it out. I also doubt that Auburn has enough time to go back and look at game tape from last year to prepare for it. I am not saying we will see it this weekend, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Especially if the game is close.

As to the Arkansas game and turnovers. One of those turnovers happened because DL Moore decided to turn his back on the ball and run downfield when the ball was already in the air. The horrid offense in that game wasn’t just due to Arkansas or Garcia. The receivers (other then Alshon) didn’t bother showing up for that game.

by Charlestowne on Dec 1, 2025 12:28 PM EST reply actions