Final thoughts, prediction for South Carolina’s trip to Clemson
Somehow, some way, Week 12 has arrived.
South Carolina heads into its annual fina- week matchup with No. 9 Clemson riding as much momentum as the Gamecocks have had under Shane Beamer. Eviscerating then-No. 5 Tennessee has that effect on a program.
Now, though, comes trying to snap a seven-game losing streak against its in-state rival.
“I think if you look at them (Clemson) year after year, they just continue to get better as the season goes,” Beamer said. “Another 10-win season for them. Another opportunity to win an ACC championship. And that’s not easy to do. I know everybody just thinks you’re supposed to roll the ball out and you’re supposed to win every Saturday. They get everyone’s best shot every single week in that league because of what they’ve done.”
If South Carolina has any chance on Saturday, it needs more of the Spencer Rattler we saw this past week against Tennessee than the version we experienced for the 10 weeks prior.
Rattler was flat out unconscious against the Volunteers. He completed 30 of 37 passes for 438 yards. His six touchdown passes set a school record. The “holy cow” throws that made him a Heisman Trophy candidate during his days at Oklahoma came just about every other toss.
South Carolina had waited for a night like that — one in which Rattler might just explode and go win you a football game. He did just that.
Next is the encore.
Clemson’s secondary ranks sixth in the SEC in pass defense, but has been susceptible at times this fall. The Tigers have also allowed 36 passing plays of 20-plus yards, which would rank 11th in the Southeastern Conference.
“It was a little bit, I think, surprising,” ex-South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier told The State this week. “But Spencer Rattler — he looked like a Heisman Trophy guy. That’s the best he’s played all year.”
Where South Carolina has to help Rattler comes in the trenches. The Tigers’ defensive line is as good as it gets in college football.
K.J. Henry, Myles Murphy, Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis are all likely bound for the NFL sooner than later, and each of them presents their own challenge in protection.
The Gamecocks offensive line, to its credit, was lights out in pass protection against Tennessee. However, that feels more like an anomaly than the norm given almost two years of history under Beamer.
South Carolina has to find a way to keep Rattler upright if it has a chance on Saturday.
“Their front-seven is really, really good,” USC tight end Nate Adkins said of Clemson. “Every single defensive lineman could be playing in the NFL, same with their linebackers.”
That the Gamecocks offense took most of the headlines this past week almost isn’t fair to a defense that largely held a wildly explosive Tennessee offense in check, despite the Volunteers racking up over 500 yards of offense.
Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei has struggled at times in 2022 and pressure from five-star freshman Cade Klubnik has seen him cede control of the offense to his perceived understudy a time or two this fall.
Uiagalelei has always had talent. His arm is a rocket. He’s a big, physical runner who can get downhill. But the consistency hasn’t ever been there.
South Carolina ranks fourth in the SEC in takeaways (17) this year. Don’t be surprised if they force Uiagalelei and the Clemson offense into a handful of turnovers.
“He went through kind of what I went through at OU,” Rattler said of the criticism that’s followed Uiagalelei the past almost two seasons. “He’s a great guy. Their family has done a good job, too. He’s been through a lot of unfair treatment. He’s a great player and he does a lot of good stuff for them.”
Last week’s win over Tennessee was an all-timer. Fans rushed the field. Players noted they’ll remember the moments for the rest of their lives. South Carolina can make this run even more iconic with a win on Saturday in Death Valley.
I just don’t see it happening.
The Gamecocks had all sorts of issues stopping the run against the Tigers a year ago. As much as Uiagalelei has struggled, tailback Will Shipley is in the fold and he figures to be in for another big game against a defense that’s struggle slowing opposing runners.
South Carolina should hang in there, but I think Clemson’s run game ends up the difference.
— Prediction: Clemson 28, South Carolina 17 —
