– Last Updated on July 27, 2019 8:11 am
2019 Football Preview – SEC Conference – South Carolina Gamecocks
Looking for 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks predictions? With an excellent recruiting class and productive returning starters South Carolina is by all accounts a rock-solid football team. Many experts even rate this Gamecock bunch as the best under head coach Will Muschamp. Senior Quarterback Jake Bentley heads another capable receiving core after throwing 27 TD’s last year. Defensive standout TJ Brunson is also back and headlines what should be a strong South Carolina pass rush.
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2019 College Football Preview – South Carolina Gamecocks
Head Coach: Will Muschamp
2018 Record: 7-6
South Carolina Gamecocks Odds to win the 2019 FBS Championship: +15000
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Normally, such plaudits would embolden any squad moving into a new calendar. However, USC’s unforgiving 2019 schedule -including matchups with Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and Florida- nullify any summer upgrades or critical national praise.
Such is life for non-elite, yet competitive SEC programs. In another conference the Gamcocks could easily claim ten wins. As an SEC mid-packer SC will be lucky to earn seven wins.
Further, the Gamecocks are just 1-10 vs. ranked teams since Muschamp took the reigns. So, unless major South Carolina upsets occur, even with a nice talent-cache, expect more of the same in 2019 from USC.
2019 South Carolina Gamecocks Predictions: Team Strengths
Jake Bentley/Wide Recievers: Yes, after throwing 14 interceptions, along with 27 scoring strikes in 2018, Bentley is a dual-edged sword. Although, battle-tested, the true senior has plenty of returning targets looking to place opposing defenses on their heels come September.
Wideout Bryan Edwards leads a talented receiving trio including Shi and OrTre Smith. Edwards caught 55 passes last season for 846 yards and seven touchdowns. Shi Smith added 45 grabs for 673 yards and four touchdowns. Each WR, especially Edwards, is a near-lock for the NFL beyond 2019.
TE Kiel Pollard will also play a much larger role this year for SC.
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Pass Rush: South Carolina retained 23 of its 26 sacks from a season ago, while reloading the pass rush cupboards. Senior linebacker TJ Brunson was excellent last year recording 106 tackles (20.6 for loss) with four sacks.
Veterans Sherrod Green (73 tackles) and Daniel Fennel join touted 2019 defensive tackle signee Zacch Pickens to highlight a capable supporting cast around Brunson.
Expect this group to become the top SC defense under Muschamp -though the team’s secondary remains questionable.
2019 South Carolina Gamecocks Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Rushing game: Behind a mediocre offensive line, Rico Dowdle seeks to improve upon his paltry team-best 654 yards from 2018. Similarly, #2 back Moc Denison hopes to add more value this fall.
Overall, the Gamecocks rushed for an anemic 153 yards per game in 2018. If South Carolina is to defy the odds and score at least one upset this year against a top-fifteen program, more life will be needed from the rushing game.
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Needing to plug that obvious hole, surprisingly Muschamp and staff didn’t bring in any regarded backfield recruits this summer. The only rusher of note appearing in this year’s SC class is three star signee Kevin Harris from Hinesville, GA.
This recruiting strategy further confounds when considering in 2018 the Gamecocks were 5-1 when rushing for a score, but 2-5 when unable to find ground paydirt.
South Carolina Gamecocks Prediction: 6-6
Talented and well-coached, South Carolina should win the games they are favored in -which isn’t many. And as of now it’s hard to see the Gamecocks rallying past Georgia, Alabama or Clemson.
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Further there are no guarantees SC can upend second-tier SEC programs like Florida, Missouri, Kentucky or Texas A&M.
That stated, an upset loss vs. Tennessee or Vanderbilt could easily place South Carolina on the wrong side of bowl contention.
I think with such a grinding schedule, SC does well to break even and go bowling this winter.
2019 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Schedule
Date Time vs Score
- 8/31/19 3:30 PM ET @UNC
- 9/7/19 TBD CHSO
- 9/14/19 TBD ALA
- 9/21/19 TBD @MIZZ
- 9/28/19 TBD UK
- 10/12/19 TBD @UGA
- 10/19/19 TBD FLA
- 10/26/19 TBD @TENN
- 11/2/19 TBD VAN
- 11/9/19 TBD APP
- 11/16/19 TBD @TAM
- 11/30/19 TBD CLEM
What do you think about our 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2019!
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