– Last Updated on August 30, 2016 3:28 pm
2016-17 Football Previews – (SEC) – Gamecocks
Looking for 2016 South Carolina Gamecocks predictions? The Gamecocks finished 11th in the SEC in 2015, going 3-9 overall with a 1-7 conference record. This season, Will Muschamp enters the picture as the newest head coach. He has a talented team to work with, but it’s clear at this juncture that there are plenty of questions surrounding the program.
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2016-17 College Football Preview – South Carolina Gamecocks
Head Coach: Will Muschamp 1st year
2015 Record: 3–9 (1–7 SEC)
Gamecocks Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: 750/1
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2016 South Carolina Gamecocks predictions: Team Strengths
Will Muschamp enters a program that needs a lot of work, but he brings with him his staple hybrid position, the BUCK position.
It’s a combination defensive end/linebacker position that will undoubtedly allow the Gamecocks to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
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This will be especially true if Boosie Whitlow can begin to reach his potential.
Running back David Williams will be South Carolina’s starter this season, and Muschamp has made it clear that has faith that the junior can find success in the conference.
At receiver, Deebo Samuel can explode off the block and should be improved following a season of dealing with a hamstring issue.
Depth at the position is a concern, however, which means tight ends Hayden Hurst and Kevin Crosby will likely get their fair share of looks.
2016 South Carolina Gamecocks predictions: Team Weaknesses
Linebacker Skai Moore was South Carolina’s top tackler the last three seasons and was supposed to be one of the conference’s best defenders this year.
However, he was ruled out for the entirety of 2016 due to an offseason neck surgery, giving the Gamecocks a massive hole to fill if they hope to find that type of production at the LB position.
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Sticking with the defense, the line had serious problems last year. The team was 99th in the country in terms of sacks and 102nd in tackles for a loss during the 2015 campaign.
The crux of the issue on the point-preventing side, however, is the secondary.
Corner Rashad Fenton appears to be the only player on the roster who has earned any sort of offseason attention, meaning we truly don’t know what we’re getting from this group entering 2016.
Offensively, this team not only has a competition going at quarterback, but it’s also looking to replace its top wide receiver. Pharoh Cooper took his talents to the NFL this offseason, going in the fourth round to the Los Angeles Rams.
Finding a true replacement for Cooper and establishing playmakers on the outside will be crucial when it comes to finding success.
2016 South Carolina Gamecocks Predictions: (4-8)
The big storyline for South Carolina this season is going to be at quarterback. Simply put: Who is going to start?
The nice part about a quarterback competition is that it brings out the best in the young talent. The even nicer part for the Gamecocks is that they have plenty of talent to choose from.
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The problem is that we’re weeks away from the start of the season and we still don’t have a starter named.
The hope here is that whoever they choose can come in right away and help this team find early success; however, it seems at this point in the process as if a lack of on-field chemistry could force this team to get out to a slow start — especially considering this team returns only seven total starters from a year ago.
2016 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Schedule
- Thursday, Sept. 1 @ Vanderbilt – 8:00 PM ET
- Saturday, Sept. 10 @ Miss St. – 7:00 PM ET
- Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. East Carolina – 4:00 PM ET
- Saturday, Sept. 24 @ Kentucky – TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. Texas A&M – TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 8 vs. Georgia – TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 22 vs. UMass – TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 29 vs. Tennessee – TBD
- Saturday, Nov. 5 vs. Missouri – TBD
- Saturday, Nov. 12 @ Florida – TBD
- Saturday, Nov. 19 vs. W. Carolina – TBD
- Saturday, Nov. 26 @ Clemson – TBD
What do you think about our 2016 South Carolina Gamecocks predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2016!
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