Final thoughts, prediction for South Carolina football’s trip to Florida
Shane Beamer doesn’t have a favorite Tom Petty song — at least for this week.
“I don’t,” Beamer said through a smile when asked his favorite tune on Tuesday.
Personal preferences aside, South Carolina will hear plenty of Petty on Saturday when they head to Gainesville for a 4 p.m. meeting (SEC Network) with Florida, complete with the rendition of “I Won’t Back Down” that rings through The Swamp between the third and fourth quarters.
On paper, this feels like a bad matchup for South Carolina ... i.e., the Arkansas loss.
Florida isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire offensively, but the Gators run the ball well enough — and the Gamecocks are porous enough against the run — and this could turn into a track meet.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson has been far from an efficient passer. His 55.7% completion percentage is the second-worst mark in the Southeastern Conference behind only Auburn’s Robby Ashford among signal-callers who’ve played in 75% of their team’s games and average at least 15 passes per game played.
That said, Richardson is as good as it gets as a runner.
He ranks third in the SEC regardless of position with a 6.65 yards per carry average. Richardson’s eight rushing touchdowns are tie for fourth in the league.
Don’t be surprised if the Gators rely heavily on Richardson’s legs with receivers Justin Shorter and Ja’Quavion Fraziars expected to miss this week’s game.
South Carolina, by contrast, had its issues slowing Vanderbilt quarterback Mike Wright after he took over for the injured AJ Swann a week ago. That was just the latest example of the Gamecocks’ issues in run fits this fall.
USC currently ranks 11th in the SEC in run defense, allowing 171.78 yards per game. That number shoots up to 214 yards per contest when the Gamecocks hit the road.
“I’m sure Anthony Richardson at Florida is watching that game tonight and is excited about next week based on some of the things that that we saw,” Beamer said following the Vanderbilt win, only half-joking.
The South Carolina offense did look suddenly explosive in the Vanderbilt win, though it’s not clear much of that was a product of playing the SEC’s worst team.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler recorded a 92.2 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus, the best mark for any Power Five quarterback last week. The three touchdowns Rattler tossed were also his most in a game since — you guessed it — a 2020 Cotton Bowl win over Florida when he was still at Oklahoma.
The ex-Sooner signal-caller has seemingly improved week to week, particularly in cutting down on turnovers. After recording 10 turnover-worthy plays his first three games, per PFF, he has just six TWPs the last six games and only two interceptions the last four games.
“Spence, he played with a lot of confidence tonight to be able to sit in that pocket and let it rip,” receiver Josh Vann said on Saturday. “... I feel like he’s learning and he’s maturing and growing week by week being able to sit in that pocket and make the throws that he did tonight. I can agree — I will say it was one of his best games tonight leading the offense and making the throws that he did.”
It still remains to be seen whether South Carolina will have running back MarShawn Lloyd available at Florida. Lloyd is recovering from a thigh contusion that forced him to miss the second half of the Missouri game and kept him out against Vanderbilt. Beamer told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that Lloyd had practiced that day and was hoping he could return.
If Lloyd can’t go, expect versatile offensive weapon Jaheim Bell to receive the lion’s share of the carries after he led the team with 16 rushes a week ago. Christian Beal-Smith, Juju McDowell and Dakereon Joyner could also all get a few touches as well.
“I think (Bell) embraced that,” offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said. “That was really the key ingredient. If he plays running back, it’s not hard to getting touches, getting the ball. I think he’s an exceptional athlete, who’s really, really good.”
South Carolina heads into the weekend with a chance at winning three-straight SEC road games since 2012, following wins at Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
It’s going to take a little longer to see the Gamecocks do that once more.
Cue up the Tom Petty. The Gators should win this one.
— Prediction: Florida 42, South Carolina 28 —
