South Carolina 38 Kentucky 23
South Carolina really stepped it up tonight. Eric Norwood deserves all SEC honors this week. I predicted a 28 to 24 Carolina win. I was close on the Kentucky score, but I was not expecting Eric Norwood to have the break out game he just had.
Way to go Cocks.
We should be ranked in the top 10 next week.
Go COCKS!!!!
NOTE: Thus far I am perfect this season in my predictions. I predicted SC to be 5-1 at this point with our only loss being to LSU. Unfortunately, I went against myself in the week leading up to LSU. Still, my preseason prediction thus far is perfect.
I am sure the usually anti-gamecock folks over at CFB News hated writing this one up.
Kentucky (5-0) at South Carolina (4-1) 7:30 PM ET ESPN
Why to Watch: If Kentucky is going to change the college football world as we know it, it's going to have to reverse history week after week. Over the next three weeks, the Wildcats have to deal with home games against LSU and Florida, along with the trip to South Carolina, as it tries to beat the Gamecocks for the first time since 1999, having lost seven straight in the series. UK QB Andre Woodson is playing as well as anyone in America, with the Heisman talk starting to flow after a red-hot start. The Wildcats have won six straight, they're only 1-0 in SEC play, beating Arkansas, while South Carolina has come up with the tough win at Georgia, battled LSU, and beat Mississippi State. This is a great team, playing through big injuries and a quarterback benching to be a true contender for the SEC title. With North Carolina and Vanderbilt coming up next, USC needs this win to likely be 7-1 before dealing with the meat of the schedule.
Why Kentucky Might Win: Kentucky could simply outbomb its way to the win. South Carolina's offense is improving, but it's not going to go on any big runs, and it's not equipped to hang around in a firefight. UK hasn't scored fewer than 40 points in any game this year, while South Carolina hasn't scored more than 38 in any game. Defensively, lost in USC's good start has been the struggles against the run, made worse with the loss of LB Jasper Brinkley. UK is known for its passing, but it's just as effective running the ball, while the mediocre pass protection won't have a problem against the non-existent USC pass rush.
Why South Carolina Might Win: The secondary is the real deal. Fine, so USC's number one ranking against the pass is partly a function of everyone running the ball on the occasionally porous defensive front, but the secondary isn't allowing anything. Georgia's Matthew Stafford struggled with his consistency, and LSU basically ignored the pass to pound away with several options. On the other side of the ball, UK can't stop the run. The D line is the Achilles heel, getting a minimal push into the backfield, and getting run by far too easily by Louisville, Kent State and Arkansas. That means ...
Who to Watch: Cory Boyd and Mike Davis should have huge games, as long as they're healthy. Boyd suffered a sprained knee against Miss State, while Davis suffered a leg injury. They're both expected to go, and they have to be effective to keep the clock rolling, keep the chains moving, and keep Woodson off the field. Also needing to come through with a big game is QB Chris Smelley, the young star who threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns with an interception, taking over the reins from an ineffective Blake Mitchell. Smelley doesn't have to outplay Woodson, but he has to limit his mistakes and take advantage of a UK secondary that'll load up the safeties on the line to stop the run.
What Will Happen: Woodson will look like a Heisman candidate at times, but he won't have enough big moments to overcome the 300 rushing yards the South Carolina offense will crank out. Smelley will make a nationally televised announcement that he'll be a player in the SEC race for the next few years.
CFN Prediction: South Carolina 34 ... Kentucky 30 ... Line: South Carolina -3.5
Must See Rating: (5 Paris on Letterman - 1 Singing Bee) ... 4
It has been said several times by many talking mouths but I must echo their sentiment of: "What the hell is going on?"
Coming in to week 6 of the 2007 NCAA Football Season, one of the most important games on the docket is S. Carolina vs. Kentucky.
Here is the tail of the tape:
Overall Ranking:
#11 South Carolina 4-1
#9 Kentucky 5-0
SEC RANKINGS:
Defense:
South Carolina 2nd
Kentucky 8th
Offense
South Carolina 9th
Kentucky 1st
Special Teams
South Carolina 7th
Kentucky 6th
Could these teams be any more evenly matched? Who is going to find the edge?
I think (and this may be because I am biased) that South Carolina will find a way to win this game. Kentucky is good no doubt and the game could be a toss up for most in the nation, but I think the SC defense will be able to shut down Kentucky. Their passing game is good but they have not faced a secondary as good as South Carolina's. Couple this with South Carolina's bend but don't break mindset and we will see a game where Kentucky gains more yardage than South Carolina but does not put as many points on the board.
This coupled with South Carolina starting to find the identity on offense, is going to make for a great game.
Still, I am very impressed with Kentucky and do not take this game lightly.
Final Score: South Carolina 28 Kentucky 24
