Gameday guide: USC vs. Texas A&M TV info, depth chart, more
South Carolina hits the road again Saturday night, visiting Texas A&M with aims of an SEC upset. Here’s the betting line, how to watch online and other things you need to know about the game:
Game info
Who: South Carolina (3-1, 2-1 SEC) at Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Kyle Field (102,733)
Series history: Texas A&M leads 3-0. The first game was in 2014, and the teams are permanent crossover rivals.
TV: SEC Network (Tom Hart, play-by-play; Jordan Rodgers, analysis; Cole Cubelic, sideline)
Online: WatchESPN
Radio: 107.5 FM (Todd Ellis, play-by-play; Tommy Suggs, analysis; Langston Moore, sideline)
Satellite radio: Sirius 83, 137/XM 83, 190
Odds: Texas A&M by 9 1/2
Weather: Partly cloudy, temperatures in the low 80s at kickoff and mid-70s by the game’s end
What’s at stake
South Carolina is trying to score an SEC upset against a talent-laden Texas A&M squad that doesn’t always play up to that level. The Gamecocks are missing at least three key players and banged up in some notable ways.
Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin, a friend of USC coach Will Muschamp, is again fighting hot seat rumors, and a loss to South Carolina, or even struggles, likely would only accentuate those.
The teams, by the numbers
USC | A&M | |
Points/Game | 24.0 | 40.8 |
Opp. Points/Game | 20.0 | 30.8 |
Yds. Rushing/Game | 102.8 | 260.3 |
Opp. Yds. Rush/Game | 132.8 | 114.0 |
Yds. Pass/Game | 250.3 | 201.0 |
Opp. Yds. Pass/Game | 277.5 | 300.5 |
Avg. Yds./Game | 353.0 | 461.3 |
Opp. Total Yds./Game | 410.3 | 414.5 |
South Carolina players to watch
1. Sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley was has posted back-to-back solid games but missed a few throws here and there. He has 1,001 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions this season.
2. Running back Ty’Son Williams got the lion’s share of the work against Louisiana Tech and posted his second strong game of the year. He might get that workload again as the Gamecocks aim to keep the Aggies’ explosive attack on the sidelines.
3. Senior linebacker Skai Moore will be one of the men in the middle against a Texas A&M squad with three good tailbacks, a mobile quarterback and a jet-fast receiver on sweeps. For the season, Moore has 34 tackles, an interception and a pair of QB pressures.
Texas A&M players to watch
1. Freshman quarterback Kellen Mond hasn’t been consistent, bouncing between extremes of poor passing and throwing lasers. He has 649 yards and six touchdowns but is completing 50.5 percent of his passes with a rating of 121.5. Mond has 35 carries for 157 yards.
2. Christian Kirk is tempting, but the quarterback situation means Trayveon Williams is the top option. He’s at 328 yards in three games, with four touchdowns and 6.6 yards a carry. He pairs with Keith Ford (232 yards, 5 TDs).
3. Defensive back Armani Watts has been all over the place in the first four games. He’s leading the team with 34 tackles, five for loss, forced and recovered fumbles and picked off three passes, including the game-ending takeaway against the Razorbacks.
Projected South Carolina depth chart
OFFENSE
QB – Jake Bentley (Michael Scarnecchia)
RB – Ty’Son Williams (Rico Dowdle, A.J. Turner)
WR – OrTre Smith (Chad Terrell)
WR – Bryan Edwards (OrTre Smith)
WR – Shi Smith (Randrecous Davis)
TE – Hayden Hurst (Kiel Pollard)
TE – Jacob August (K.C. Crosby)
LT – Dennis Daley (Malik Young)
LG – Sadarius Hutcherson (D.J. Park)
C – Alan Knott (Chandler Farrell)
RG – Donell Stanley (Blake Camper)
RT – Malik Young (D.J. Park)
DEFENSE
DE – Dante Sawyer OR Keir Thomas (Aaron Sterling)
DT – Taylor Stallworth (Kobe Smith)
DT – Ulric Jones (Javon Kinlaw)
DE – D.J. Wonnum (Daniel Fennell)
LB – Daniel Fennell (Antoine Wilder)
LB – T.J. Brunson (Sherrod Greene)
LB – Skai Moore (Eldridge Thompson)
CB – Jamarcus King (Chris Lammons)
S – D.J. Smith (Javon Charleston)
S – Chris Lammons (Steven Montac)
CB – Rashad Fenton (Jamyest Williams)
NICK – Jamyest Williams (Chris Lammons)
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Parker White
KO – Parker White
P – Joseph Charlton (Michael Almond)
LS – Ben Asbury (Matthew Smith)
KR – Rashad Fenton (A.J. Turner)
PR – Chris Lammons (Rashad Fenton)
H – Danny Gordon (Michael Almond)
Ben Breiner
This story was originally published September 28, 2017 at 10:30 AM with the headline "Gameday guide: USC vs. Texas A&M TV info, depth chart, more."