Gameday Guide: USC-ECU TV info, depth chart, clear bag policy, more

South Carolina plays East Carolina on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know about the game.

Game info

▪  Who: South Carolina (1-1) vs. East Carolina (2-0)

▪  When: 4 p.m. Saturday

▪  Where: Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250), Columbia

▪  Tickets: The game is sold out

▪  Series history: USC leads 13-5, has won last three meetings

▪  TV: SEC Network (Dave Neal, play-by-play; Matt Stinchcomb, analysis; Olivia Harlan, sideline)

▪  Radio: 107.5 FM (Todd Ellis, play-by-play; Tommy Suggs, analysis; Langston Moore, sideline)

▪  Satellite radio: Sirius 113/XM 190

▪  Line: USC by 3 1/2

▪  Weather: A chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. On Saturday night, a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Parents Weekend

It’s Parents Weekend at USC, which includes a Parents Weekend Tailgate Party from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on the old football practice fields, at the corner of Bluff and National Guard roads. That means thousands of freshmen and their parents, many of whom have never attended a game at Williams-Brice Stadium, on hand, and additional pedestrian traffic incurred around the stadium.

All fans are asked to plan accordingly and are encouraged to arrive early. Gamecock parking lots open at 10 a.m. and the Fairgrounds parking lots open at 11 a.m.

Clear bag policy

South Carolina, like some other colleges and NFL teams, has adopted size restrictions and other guidelines on bags for all ticketed sporting events. Boiling it down, the new rule allows for:

▪  Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” (with a logo no larger than 4.5” x 3.4” displayed on one side of the bag)

▪  A small clutch of your fashion choice, but no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” (with or without a handle or strap).

The teams, by the numbers

Story lines

1. South Carolina has its first of seven home games and the first for head coach Will Muschamp at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks are trying to rebound from their first loss of the season, a 27-14 defeat at the hands of Mississippi State.

2. East Carolina is 2-0 and coming off a 33-30 win against NC State. The Pirates offense averages 566.5 yards per game, the 10th best in the country. (USC is 125th in the country at 275 yards per game.)

3. The Gamecocks are looking to snap a home opener losing streak. USC has lost two straight openers at Williams-Brice (2014 to Texas A&M; 2015 to Kentucky). ECU has lost two straight road openers. The Pirates are 4-11 since 2000 in road openers.

4. East Carolina defensive line coach Deke Adams returns to Williams-Brice after serving as the Gamecocks’ coach at the same position from 2013 to 2015.

5. ECU is averaging 42.5 points per game to the Gamecocks’ 13.5. South Carolina has averaged 46 points against the Pirates in the last three meetings, all USC wins.

South Carolina players to watch

1. Freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain could see the most extensive action of his young career. He played the entire second half against Mississippi State, completing 11-of-22 passes for 126 yards and two scores. Whether he starts vs. ECU remains a mystery.

2. The South Carolina running backs. Starter A.J. Turner was used almost exclusively against Mississippi State, spelled briefly by Rod Talley. David Williams did not play.

3. Junior cornerback Jamarcus King is expected to make his first career start as a Gamecock. All eyes will be on King and the USC secondary as they try to slow down the potent ECU passing attack.

East Carolina players to watch

1. Senior quarterback Philip Nelson has come a long way since a promising start to his career was derailed by a bar fight. He’s thrown for 695 yards and six scores on 75 passes in his first two games.

2. Junior running back Anthony Scott had a tough time finding room against the Wolfpack (3.7 yards per carry), but he’s been integral through the air as well as on the ground. He has 161 yards on 22 carries for the season, and 15 receptions for another 139 yards.

3. Senior outside linebacker Dayon Pratt caused havoc against N.C. State with seven tackles, two for loss, and a sack after a quiet opener against Western Carolina.

Projected South Carolina depth chart

WR – SAMUEL (Dawkins)

WR – J. SMITH (Banks)

WR – EDWARDS (Davis)

LT – ZANDI (Young)

LG – BAILEY (Farrell or Knott)

C – HELMS (Knott)

RG – KNOTT (Farrell or Bailey)

RT – PARK (Young)

TE – HURST (August or Crosby)

QB – McILWAIN (Orth)

RB – TURNER (Talley)

DE – LEWIS (Wonnum)

DT – STALLWORTH (Thomas)

DT – GRIFFIN (Jones)

DE – ENGLISH (Sawyer)

SLB – HOLLOMAN (Walton)

MLB – WALTON (Holloman)

WLB – ALLEN-WILLIAMS (Holloman)

CB – FENTON (Montac)

S – D. SMITH (Diggs)

S – SASSER (Moody or Montac or Boyd)

CB – KING (Lammons)

NICK – DIGGS (Fenton)

PK – FRY (Charlton)

P – KELLY (Charlton)

LS – DR. WILLIAMS (McGriff)

KR – TURNER (Fenton)

PR – FENTON (Lammons)

H – KELLY

This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 11:27 AM with the headline "Gameday Guide: USC-ECU TV info, depth chart, clear bag policy, more."