Scouting the Gamecocks’ next opponent: The Tennessee Volunteers
When: 4 p.m., Saturday
Where: Knoxville, Tenn.
TV: SEC Network
Last week: Tennessee dominated Kentucky 52-21, including a 28-point third quarter to take control of the game.
Three story lines
The last three meetings between these two teams have been decided by three points or less. The Volunteers upset USC each of the past two seasons, but open as 15-point favorites for Saturday’s meeting.
Tennessee starting CB Emmanuel Moseley will miss the first half against the Gamecocks after being ejected for targeting in the second half of Tennessee’s win over Kentucky. Moseley leads the Volunteers in pass breakups with eight.
Tennessee is in prime position to have its best season under Butch Jones. Despite four losses, all by seven points or less, the Vols are 4-4 and will likely be double-digit favorites in their final four games.
Three players to watch
Sophomore running back Jalen Hurd is a tough runner who also has breakaway speed. Through eight games, he has 725 rushing yards, is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and has 11 total touchdowns.
South Carolina knows all about Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs after he became the first Tennessee player ever to put up 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game last year against the Gamecocks. He’s rushed for 438 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season, which is scary for a USC defense that struggled to stop Texas A&M quarterback Kyler Murray from running the ball last week.
Junior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin had more than 100 tackles last season and is on pace to reach that mark again. He leads the Vols in tackles with 73 — 22 more than anyone else on the team — and also is the team-leader in tackles for loss with 10.5.
Pick
Tennessee 42, South Carolina 24. This is the most talented team Butch Jones has had at Tennessee and the Volunteers are playing their best football right now. The combination of Josh Dobbs and Jalen Hurd will be too much for a South Carolina defense that allowed 321 rushing yards to Texas A&M this past Saturday.
Matt Connolly