Gameday Guide: South Carolina vs. Florida TV info, storylines, more

South Carolina hosts the final three games of the season, starting with Florida on Saturday.

▪  Who: Florida (8-1, 6-1 SEC) at South Carolina (3-6, 1-6)

▪  When: Noon Saturday

▪  Where: Williams-Brice Stadium

▪  TV: ESPN (Mike Patrick, play by play; Ed Cunningham, analysis; Dr. Jerry Punch, sideline)

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

▪  Satellite radio: Sirius 83/XM 190

▪  Line: Florida by 8

▪  Series record: Florida leads 24-8-3

▪  Streaks: A Gamecocks win over Florida would be the third-straight and be the longest winning streak over the Gators in USC history

▪  Gamecock Walk: The team’s walk through Gamecock Park will take place at approximately 9:45 a.m.

▪  Bonus attraction: Save your football ticket stub and get in free at the USC men’s basketball team season opener against Norfolk State at 7 p.m. Saturday at Colonial Life Arena.

▪  Weather report: Low 40s in the morning, then sunny with a high near 64

▪  Uniform report: The Gamecocks will wear all black (with white helmets).

FIVE NUMBERS

3: Times in the last four years that South Carolina has beaten that season’s SEC East champion. Florida clinched the title last week.

27/18: Sacks by the Gators, second in the league to Alabama, and sacks given up by USC, eighth in the league.

2: Number of home games the Gamecocks had from Sept. 26 to Nov. 14.

4: Number of USC wins in the last five years over Florida. The Gamecocks had won once in the previous 19 tries.

23-20: Score of the Gamecocks’ overtime win in The Swamp last season, which got Will Muschamp fired and led to Jim McElwain’s hiring.

FIVE STORYLINES

1. NO PLACE LIKE IT

USC is finally back home after playing on the road (or being on a bye week) for more than a month. Some things about Williams-Brice Stadium have to help, such as the crowd not roaring when the Gamecocks are on offense. Perhaps home field was the one missing piece of the last two failed comebacks.

2. RIGHT THERE

USC has lost two straight by a combined 10 points, and had the ball in each game with a chance to tie or win. Shawn Elliott says the team is knocking on the door and it’s going to be answered soon. The Gamecocks need it to be Saturday and the next two Saturdays if they want to extend their streak of bowl appearances.

3. LETDOWN

Florida has already won the SEC East and while it’s in the hunt for the national championship, it probably knows making the playoff would require a miracle. Perhaps Jim McElwain, who has already championed his love for Steve Spurrier, will see the giant banner outside the stadium and want to take it easy on Spurrier’s former team.

4. WORKHORSE

USC has been punished by runners the past two weeks and Florida makes no bones about what it will try to do. Tailback Kelvin Taylor is averaging a mere 70 yards per game but has 631 for the season and 11 touchdowns. He hasn’t broken despite toting the ball 171 times. The Gamecocks’ defensive front has to take the run away and force Treon Harris to win the game.

5. ROH-ZO

They needed to do it last week and while they nearly won, they lost. So again – Shawn Elliott needs to have Pharoh Cooper and Lorenzo Nunez handling the ball as much as possible. Good things happen when those two have the ball in their hands.

FLORIDA TIES

The Gamecocks have 18 players from the state of Florida, including Jordan Diggs (Fort Myers), Rashad Fenton (Miami), Al Harris Jr. (Fort Lauderdale), Hayden Hurst (Jacksonville), Sean Kelly (Oakland), Chris Lammons (Lauderhill), Mike Matulis (Boynton Beach), Nick McGriff (Gainesville), Skai Moore (Cooper City), Perry Orth (Ponte Vedra), Christian Pellage (Brooksville), Sherrod Pittman (Jacksonville), Jasper Sasser (Jacksonville), Michael Scarnecchia (Fleming Island), Jamari Smith (Jacksonville), Will Sport (Milton), Cody Waldrop (Seffner), and Jerad Washington (Jacksonville).

USC football staffers Jon Hoke (1999-01), G.A. Mangus (1988-94), Steve Spurrier Jr. (1994-98) and Jamie Speronis (1982-02) have all been part of the Florida Gator family during their careers.

THREE GATORS TO WATCH

1. Antonio Callaway, a true freshman from Miami, is a big-play receiver averaging 21.5 yards per catch. He is tied for the team lead in touchdowns with three. Callaway is also averaging 14.4 yards per punt return, including a 72-yard return for a touchdown against LSU.

2. Vernon Hargreaves III is arguably the best cornerback in college football. He is tied for 16^thin the country in interceptions with four, and he doesn’t just pick passes off, he does damage afterward. Hargreaves has 152 return yards on his four picks.

3. Jonathan Bullard, a Shelby, N.C. native, is a dominant force on Florida’s defense. He has 44 tackles, 13 for loss, five sacks and five quarterback hurries.

USC DEPTH CHART

OFFENSE

WR – BELTON (Jeffery or Hurst)

WR – P. COOPER (Heard)

WR – GOOGER (Jeffery or Hurst)

LT – SHELL (Pellage)

LG – MATULIS (Park)

C – KNOTT (Bailey)

RG – SPORT (Stanley)

RT – ZANDI (Camper)

TE – ADAMS (Markway, Crosby)

QB – ORTH (Nunez, Mitch, Scarnecchia)

FB – BEDENBAUGH

TB – WILDS (Da. Williams, Carson)

DEFENSE

DE – WHITLOW (English, D. Johnson)

DT – SAWYER (Griffin)

NT – DIXON JR. (Dukes, Lamin)

DE – LEWIS (Dixon, C. Cooper)

WLB – MOORE (Walton)

MLB – HOLLOMAN (Allen-Williams)

SLB – BRYANT (Hawkins)

SPUR – GURLEY (Sasser)

LCB – LAMMONS (Fenton)

FS – I. JOHNSON (Moody)

SS – DIGGS (D. Smith)

RCB – MCWILLIAMS (J. Smith)

SPECIAL TEAMS

KO – ARD (Fry)

PK – FRY (Ard)

P – KELLY (Almond)

KR – FENTON (Talley)

PR – P. COOPER

SN – DR. WILLIAMS (McGriff)

H – KELLY (Ard)

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 10:49 PM.