Five reasons South Carolina can beat Texas A&M

Five reasons South Carolina can beat Texas A&M:

1. CAROUSEL

Texas A&M is undecided on its quarterback and while it will of course pick one for its season-opener, there’s no telling how effective the guy will be. Perhaps there’s a switch by Week 5 that the Gamecocks can exploit.

2. THE OVERLOOK HOTEL

The Aggies have a doozy of a first game at UCLA, but after that are Nicholls State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas, the first two at home and the third in Arlington. The week after South Carolina is a home game against Alabama. Could the Gamecocks catch A&M prepping for an SEC West hurdle?

3. NO MORE HARD MYLES

Myles Garrett, the top pick in the NFL Draft and a game-changer at defensive end, is gone. Ditto Daeshon Hall. The Aggies have replacements lined up, but can they really replace a pair that had a third of the team’s 39 sacks? Jake Bentley has a much better shot at staying upright now that those two aren’t around.

4. COAL AND DIAMONDS

If A&M loses to UCLA and then to Arkansas, the heat will already be on Kevin Sumlin to turn it around. The Aggies know they’ll have an easier game against USC than Alabama, but will the need to beat the Gamecocks tighten their airways?

5. ROOKIE

The Aggies were deplorable at stopping the run last year and are hoping big-time linebacker recruit Anthony Hines will help end that. But Hines is a freshman. If he’s run over by Arkansas the week before, the Gamecocks’ trio of tailbacks could have a big day.

This story was originally published July 18, 2017 at 3:39 PM.