GCF South Carolina vs. Missouri Game Preview, Prediction & Discussion Thread
Nov. 09, 2021
South Carolina football hits the road for the last time in the 2021 regular season as it travels to face its last SEC East opponent, the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri. The Gamecocks routed Florida following their bye week, sending Dan Mullen’s Gators back to Gainesville with a 40-17 loss and inching within one victory of bowl eligibility in Shane Beamer’s first year as head coach. Missouri returns to Faurot Field after suffering a 43-6 loss to Georgia in Athens last week.
South Carolina could even the series record against Missouri with a win on Saturday, as the Tigers currently hold the matchup with a 6-5 overall record. Mizzou has taken the last two meetings, leaving Williams-Brice Stadium last season with a 17-10 win on Nov. 21, 2020.
HOW TO WATCH SOUTH CAROLINA VS MISSOURI FOOTBALL GAME
Who: South Carolina Gamecocks (5-4, 2-4 SEC) at Missouri Tigers (4-5, 1-4 SEC)
Where: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium (62,621) in Columbia, MO
When: 4 p.m. Saturday TV: SEC Network
Stream: via ESPN app
The Gamecocks opened a 3-point underdog to Missouri on the road, but the line has moved around in various sportsbooks. Caesars, Circa Sports, SuperBook and the VegasInsider Consensus lowered the line to 1 point in favor of Missouri, while South Carolina was actually favored by 1.5 points according to DraftKings.
THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina is coming off of a statement win in the first year of the Beamer era, defeating Florida handily 40-17 at Williams-Brice Stadium. It appears the off week between the Texas A&M thrashing (44-14 loss in College Station) and the Florida victory did wonders for the Gamecocks’ offensive progression, as Jason Brown took the reins at quarterback and led the way to South Carolina’s most productive week in total offense (459 yards) and rushing yards (284).
Pair that performance with a season-best effort with rush defense, limited a typically prolific Florida ground game to 82 yards on 26 attempts, another positive day in the turnover battle (recovered fumble for a touchdown and an interception) and just a single penalty for the day, and the Gamecocks could be peaking late. South Carolina needs just one more win in its final three games —against either Missouri, Auburn or Clemson to make it to a bowl game in Beamer’s first season.
SOUTH CAROILNA PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Jason Brown: Brown finished his first start as a Gamecock 14 of 24 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. His 50-yard pass to Josh Vann in the second quarter gave the Gamecock offense life. His 24-yard touchdown pass to Vann three plays later then pushed South Carolina’s lead to 10. It wasn’t an all-world performance by any stretch. Brown missed a few throws and just overshot Vann and Dakereon Joyner on would-be big plays. But for a third-string quarterback who just last year was at FCS St. Francis (Pennsylvania), Saturday went as well as Brown, Beamer and the Gamecocks staff could’ve hoped for.
WR Josh Vann: Vann exploded onto the scene with 127 yards against East Carolina and 128 yards at Georgia in South Carolina’s first two games against FBS competition this year. Since then, Vann hadn’t gone for more than 45 yards or three catches in a contest. Until Saturday. Facing a Florida defense that has been susceptible at times this season, Vann recorded 111 yards on seven catches to lead the team in both categories. He also narrowly missed on another big gain when a pass from Brown drifted just far enough out of bounds that he couldn’t get a foot down. South Carolina’s offense had come to a complete stop without Vann involved of late. With Brown taking a few more shots downfield and Vann’s ability to beat defensive backs one-on-one, USC has a recipe for more points over its final three games.
RB Kevin Harris: Harris encore to a 2020 campaign in which he led the SEC in rushing has been a disappointment just about any way you slice it. Saturday, though, the Harris of old returned. He finished his night with 128 yards on just 11 attempts, more than doubling his season-high rushing output for any game this fall. Harris bounced off, bowled over and blew by tacklers with the precision that helped him lead the league in rushing a season ago. His speed still didn’t quite appear to be a top gear, but he’s clearly getting closer. South Carolina’s running game has been a mess this year. If Harris can stay healthy over the last three weeks, USC ought to like its chances down the stretc
THE MISSOURI TIGERS
The status of Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak is unknown following an injury that saw the Tigers’ sophomore starter miss their last game at Georgia. Second-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz opted to split time between Bazelak’s two backups, Tyler Macon and Brady Cook, to little avail in a 43-6 defeat by the No. 1 team in the nation.
The Tigers’ offense isn’t exactly prolific, ranked toward the mid tier of the SEC in yards per game, but Missouri’s true struggles have been with its ailing defense, which allows nearly 500 yards per game and sees opponents score 36.8 points on average. Missouri’s rush defense has been especially anemic, ranked at the bottom of the conference allowing 271 yards each week.
The Tigers have only held three of their nine opponents to less than 250 yards on the ground — Central Michigan, North Texas and (ironically) Georgia. Missouri is at the bottom of the SEC East, above just a 2-7 Vanderbilt team, and needs to come up with two wins across games against South Carolina, Florida and Arkansas to reach a bowl berth
MIZZOU PLAYERS TO WATCH
WR Tauskie Dove: Dove has explosive play potential and has hauled in at least one reception of 10 yards or more in every Missouri game this season. He’s totaled 30 catches for 454 yards this year and averages 15.1 yards per reception, making the 6-foot-2 wideout a formidable matchup for the Gamecocks’ secondary.
DB Jaylon Carlies: Carlies is a turnover machine for the Tigers, coming up with four interceptions and a forced fumble this season. The 6-foot-3 sophomore safety is tied for third in the country in total interceptions (second in the SEC behind South Carolina’s Jaylan Foster) and was one of the lone bright spots in Missouri’s most recent loss at Georgia, intercepting Bulldog quarterback J.T. Daniels and coming up with a team-leading 10 tackles in Athens.
RB Tyler Badie: Badie’s production was stifled in Missouri’s last game against Georgia, but the senior will be looking to replicate the performances he had against Central Michigan (203 yards on 25 carries), North Texas (209 yards on 17 carries) and Vanderbilt (254 yards on 31 carries). Badie has already eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in 2021 and adds another 315 yards on 45 receptions. He’s the 10th most productive rusher in the country and ranks first in the SEC.
GCF PREDICTION
Missouri QB Connor Bazelak is still banged up. He missed the Georgia game, but he practiced this week and might have a shot at playing , but don’t count on him quite yet folks. Even so, Missouri should be able to run well and keep the offense moving. It won’t be enough though. South Carolina Gamecocks' has found it's mojo beating up Florida last week-end at tune of 40-17. The Florida defensive front is a brick wall compared to Missouri’s line. Gamecocks will use a heavy dose Harris, White, and Lloyd on the porous Tiger D on the way to a sixth win and bowl eligibility,. Yes you heard me say "bowl eligibility"
South Carolina 24
Mizzou 23
Nov. 09, 2021
South Carolina football hits the road for the last time in the 2021 regular season as it travels to face its last SEC East opponent, the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri. The Gamecocks routed Florida following their bye week, sending Dan Mullen’s Gators back to Gainesville with a 40-17 loss and inching within one victory of bowl eligibility in Shane Beamer’s first year as head coach. Missouri returns to Faurot Field after suffering a 43-6 loss to Georgia in Athens last week.
South Carolina could even the series record against Missouri with a win on Saturday, as the Tigers currently hold the matchup with a 6-5 overall record. Mizzou has taken the last two meetings, leaving Williams-Brice Stadium last season with a 17-10 win on Nov. 21, 2020.
HOW TO WATCH SOUTH CAROLINA VS MISSOURI FOOTBALL GAME
Who: South Carolina Gamecocks (5-4, 2-4 SEC) at Missouri Tigers (4-5, 1-4 SEC)
Where: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium (62,621) in Columbia, MO
When: 4 p.m. Saturday TV: SEC Network
Stream: via ESPN app
The Gamecocks opened a 3-point underdog to Missouri on the road, but the line has moved around in various sportsbooks. Caesars, Circa Sports, SuperBook and the VegasInsider Consensus lowered the line to 1 point in favor of Missouri, while South Carolina was actually favored by 1.5 points according to DraftKings.
THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina is coming off of a statement win in the first year of the Beamer era, defeating Florida handily 40-17 at Williams-Brice Stadium. It appears the off week between the Texas A&M thrashing (44-14 loss in College Station) and the Florida victory did wonders for the Gamecocks’ offensive progression, as Jason Brown took the reins at quarterback and led the way to South Carolina’s most productive week in total offense (459 yards) and rushing yards (284).
Pair that performance with a season-best effort with rush defense, limited a typically prolific Florida ground game to 82 yards on 26 attempts, another positive day in the turnover battle (recovered fumble for a touchdown and an interception) and just a single penalty for the day, and the Gamecocks could be peaking late. South Carolina needs just one more win in its final three games —against either Missouri, Auburn or Clemson to make it to a bowl game in Beamer’s first season.
SOUTH CAROILNA PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Jason Brown: Brown finished his first start as a Gamecock 14 of 24 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. His 50-yard pass to Josh Vann in the second quarter gave the Gamecock offense life. His 24-yard touchdown pass to Vann three plays later then pushed South Carolina’s lead to 10. It wasn’t an all-world performance by any stretch. Brown missed a few throws and just overshot Vann and Dakereon Joyner on would-be big plays. But for a third-string quarterback who just last year was at FCS St. Francis (Pennsylvania), Saturday went as well as Brown, Beamer and the Gamecocks staff could’ve hoped for.
WR Josh Vann: Vann exploded onto the scene with 127 yards against East Carolina and 128 yards at Georgia in South Carolina’s first two games against FBS competition this year. Since then, Vann hadn’t gone for more than 45 yards or three catches in a contest. Until Saturday. Facing a Florida defense that has been susceptible at times this season, Vann recorded 111 yards on seven catches to lead the team in both categories. He also narrowly missed on another big gain when a pass from Brown drifted just far enough out of bounds that he couldn’t get a foot down. South Carolina’s offense had come to a complete stop without Vann involved of late. With Brown taking a few more shots downfield and Vann’s ability to beat defensive backs one-on-one, USC has a recipe for more points over its final three games.
RB Kevin Harris: Harris encore to a 2020 campaign in which he led the SEC in rushing has been a disappointment just about any way you slice it. Saturday, though, the Harris of old returned. He finished his night with 128 yards on just 11 attempts, more than doubling his season-high rushing output for any game this fall. Harris bounced off, bowled over and blew by tacklers with the precision that helped him lead the league in rushing a season ago. His speed still didn’t quite appear to be a top gear, but he’s clearly getting closer. South Carolina’s running game has been a mess this year. If Harris can stay healthy over the last three weeks, USC ought to like its chances down the stretc
THE MISSOURI TIGERS
The status of Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak is unknown following an injury that saw the Tigers’ sophomore starter miss their last game at Georgia. Second-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz opted to split time between Bazelak’s two backups, Tyler Macon and Brady Cook, to little avail in a 43-6 defeat by the No. 1 team in the nation.
The Tigers’ offense isn’t exactly prolific, ranked toward the mid tier of the SEC in yards per game, but Missouri’s true struggles have been with its ailing defense, which allows nearly 500 yards per game and sees opponents score 36.8 points on average. Missouri’s rush defense has been especially anemic, ranked at the bottom of the conference allowing 271 yards each week.
The Tigers have only held three of their nine opponents to less than 250 yards on the ground — Central Michigan, North Texas and (ironically) Georgia. Missouri is at the bottom of the SEC East, above just a 2-7 Vanderbilt team, and needs to come up with two wins across games against South Carolina, Florida and Arkansas to reach a bowl berth
MIZZOU PLAYERS TO WATCH
WR Tauskie Dove: Dove has explosive play potential and has hauled in at least one reception of 10 yards or more in every Missouri game this season. He’s totaled 30 catches for 454 yards this year and averages 15.1 yards per reception, making the 6-foot-2 wideout a formidable matchup for the Gamecocks’ secondary.
DB Jaylon Carlies: Carlies is a turnover machine for the Tigers, coming up with four interceptions and a forced fumble this season. The 6-foot-3 sophomore safety is tied for third in the country in total interceptions (second in the SEC behind South Carolina’s Jaylan Foster) and was one of the lone bright spots in Missouri’s most recent loss at Georgia, intercepting Bulldog quarterback J.T. Daniels and coming up with a team-leading 10 tackles in Athens.
RB Tyler Badie: Badie’s production was stifled in Missouri’s last game against Georgia, but the senior will be looking to replicate the performances he had against Central Michigan (203 yards on 25 carries), North Texas (209 yards on 17 carries) and Vanderbilt (254 yards on 31 carries). Badie has already eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in 2021 and adds another 315 yards on 45 receptions. He’s the 10th most productive rusher in the country and ranks first in the SEC.
GCF PREDICTION
Missouri QB Connor Bazelak is still banged up. He missed the Georgia game, but he practiced this week and might have a shot at playing , but don’t count on him quite yet folks. Even so, Missouri should be able to run well and keep the offense moving. It won’t be enough though. South Carolina Gamecocks' has found it's mojo beating up Florida last week-end at tune of 40-17. The Florida defensive front is a brick wall compared to Missouri’s line. Gamecocks will use a heavy dose Harris, White, and Lloyd on the porous Tiger D on the way to a sixth win and bowl eligibility,. Yes you heard me say "bowl eligibility"
South Carolina 24
Mizzou 23
