South Carolina v. Mississippi State: FAQ

All your Bulldog v. Gamecock questions, answered!

By Jorge De Los Gallos Nov 2, 2013, 9:28am EDT

Location: Williams-Brice Stadium (FINALLY), Columbia, SC
Day: Saturday, November 2, 2013
Time: 12:21 EST
TV: SEC TV
Line: South Carolina -12.5, O/U 52.5
Unis: @GamecocockEquip's flaked on posting uniforms lately, so your guess is as good as mine.

What a game last week!

Indeed. Was I the only one who, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, was only hoping we didn't get shut out? For some perspective, read Chicken Hoops' SC/MU By The Numbers piece and Brandon Larrabee's list of possible SEC East scenarios. Last week's comeback was unlikely and thrilling to watch, but I'd be OK with it if we pulled off a less dramatic victory today.

Will we?

We could. After all, we're favored by almost two touchdowns and playing our first home game in a month. As usual, Chicken Hoops can give you the best idea of what to expect. To summarize, South Carolina matches up well when on defense, and containing multi-pronged QB Dak Williams go a long way towards winning this one. When on offense, the Gamecocks will look to exploit MSU's average run defense. After a down week in the ground game department against Missouri, one would hope Mike Davis and crew are eager to put on a show for their home crowd. Assuming Mike Davis is as healthy as he claims, of course.

Oh yeah! He twisted his ankle so badly that Joe Tessitore apologized to the audience for showing gruesome replay footage. So you're telling me his year's not over?

We were all concerned that might be the case, especially after the replay in question. But in response to a question about his health during the post-game press conference, Mike coyly responded "What injury? I have no idea what you're talking about," and later tweeted this:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>No ice no nothing the ankle is good people</p>— Mike Davis (@Mike28davis) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike28davis/statuses/394313384046239745">October 27, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Dude is tough and it would seem he's ready to go.

Speaking of tough, how's Connor Shaw? And the rest of the team, injury-wise?

As this week's Auguste Report will tell you, Connor Shaw's been battling an illness of some sort and missed three days of practice this week. But as Steve Spurrier is always quick to point out, he's not someone we should be overly concerned about missing practice. Heck, last week's heroics game on the heels of a practice-free week. Wait, should we stop practicing? Like, the entire team? [presses ear piece] I'm told that's not in our best interest. But worry not, GA Mangus trickled out a stream of information on Wednesday that confirmed Shaw, last week's Athlon Sports NOPOTW, will be full go today. Elsewhere, Ronald Patrick should be healthy. Cody Waldrop and Brandon Wilds are both to a point where they could play, but it's likely the staff will likely hold them out. This way, they'll get they extra bye week to further heal before Florida comes to town.

As a certain insufferable braggart has made clear over the past week, Our Digital Season totally called the double OT victory in ColaMizz. Can I see a critical response to said victory, and also, how'd things go this week?

Please read the short story "Harold's Gamble" about a family man who had fallen on hard times until a certain investment paid off. Then, read our half-assed MSU simulation that finds South Carolina victorious by a score of 56-24.

56! Do you really think we'll score that much?

Nah. But read Gamecock Man's preview, and he'll tell you we eclipse 40 and hold MSU to a touchdown and a field goal. Or, two field goals and two safeties. Or one touchdown with a two point conversion, and one safety. Or five safeties. He didn't specify, is what I'm saying. But let's hope it's not five safeties.

I should hope not. Hey, did you have a nice Halloween?

I did! So did Ja-grave-eon Clowney, Grimmy LeGreaper, and the rest South Carolina's spookified roster.

Maybe Tyler Skull nails a few coffin kicks this week. Anything else happen around GABA this week?

Absolutely. Tryptic's piece on the 2001 SC/MSU tilt that reintroduced America to sports following the 9/11 attacks is worth everyone's time. I was but a high school junior without any real interest in college sports at the time, so reading this was as educational as it was interesting. Check out the Half Cocked Show for a bit of banter with the enemy. For more of said banter and a creepy Spurrier 'Shop, go here. Bruce Ellington confided that he'll likely file the necessary paperwork to have his NFL draft status evaluated, which isn't something we should be concerned about. Connor spoke with the one and only Rece Davis, who thoughtfully defended his team's week 1 Doo-Doo coverage.

Last request for the day: I need a song with a cowbell in it, and I need it now.

Avoiding the obvious, here's the rollicking Radiohead track "Electioneering" from OK Computer:

May we all be Fitter/Happier when this one's over.

GO COCKS!