Another great write up by CHRIS PHILLIPS from THE SPURS UP SHOW. Really enjoy Chris's podcast!!
2019 Opponent Preview: Can The Gamecocks Do The Unthinkable And Shock The Crimson Tide Yet Again?
OPPONENT: Alabama Crimson Tide
WHEN: Saturday, September 14th
WHERE: Williams Brice Stadium (Columbia, SC)
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD: Alabama leads 10-4
LAST MEETING: South Carolina beat Alabama 35-21 on October 9th, 2010.
2018 RECORD: 14-1 (8-0)
Head Coach…
Nick Saban
One of the best coaches in college football history, Nick Saban returns for his 13th year at the helm of Alabama football.
Saban’s Crimson Tide lost a game by more than 14 points for the first time ever last season in the National Title game against Clemson.
Still, Alabama remains arguably the team to beat heading into 2019, as Nick Saban looks for his sixth national championship as the head coach in Tuscaloosa.
Returning Starters…
OFFENSE (6)
QB Tua Tagovailoa (Jr.)
RT Jedrick Willis Jr. (Jr.)
LT Alex Leatherwood (Jr.)
WR DeVonta Smith (Jr.)
WR Henry Ruggs III (Jr.)
WR Jerry Jeudy (Jr.)
DEFENSE (7)
DE Raekwon Davis (Sr.)
OLB Anfernee Jennings (Sr.)
ILB Dylan Moses (Jr.)
CB Trevon Diggs (Sr.)
CB Patrick Surtain III (So.)
S Xavier McKinney (Jr.)
How did they fare in 2018?
Was 2018 a successful year for Alabama? For a program that is judged on championships, last year can be seen as a disappointment.
The Crimson Tide cruised through the regular season, on the way to their 7th national title game appearance since 2009.
However, the season was ended unlike any before in recent memory for Alabama. Clemson smacked the Crimson Tide by a final score of 44-16, opening up the door for questions in regards to Bama’s mortality.
Best Returning Player…
QB Tua Tagovailoa
The Crimson Tide machine begins and ends with one of the best quarterbacks in the country under center.
Tagovailoa set the CFB world on fire a year ago, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 43 total TD.
While there are playmakers all over the field, the Crimson Tide’s national title hopes go down the tube without #13 under center.
Overall Outlook…
First off, who can forget that magical October afternoon in 2010:
South Carolina remains the last team from the SEC East to defeat the Crimson Tide, winning 35-21 nine years ago in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Alabama comes into this season looking to erase the horrid memories of a blowout loss to Clemson in the national title and get back to their eighth national championship game since 2009.
Expect the Gamecocks to pull out all the 2010 magic they can, from wearing the same uniforms to hype videos to even having Stephen Garcia lead the “GAME-COCKS” chant to start the game.
Still, it will be a tall task to ask South Carolina to pull the upset over an Alabama team who will no doubt be on a mission this fall.
2019 SEASON PROJECTION: 13-0 (8-0)
2019 Opponent Preview: Can The Gamecocks Do The Unthinkable And Shock The Crimson Tide Yet Again?
OPPONENT: Alabama Crimson Tide
WHEN: Saturday, September 14th
WHERE: Williams Brice Stadium (Columbia, SC)
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD: Alabama leads 10-4
LAST MEETING: South Carolina beat Alabama 35-21 on October 9th, 2010.
2018 RECORD: 14-1 (8-0)
Head Coach…
Nick Saban
One of the best coaches in college football history, Nick Saban returns for his 13th year at the helm of Alabama football.
Saban’s Crimson Tide lost a game by more than 14 points for the first time ever last season in the National Title game against Clemson.
Still, Alabama remains arguably the team to beat heading into 2019, as Nick Saban looks for his sixth national championship as the head coach in Tuscaloosa.
Returning Starters…
OFFENSE (6)
QB Tua Tagovailoa (Jr.)
RT Jedrick Willis Jr. (Jr.)
LT Alex Leatherwood (Jr.)
WR DeVonta Smith (Jr.)
WR Henry Ruggs III (Jr.)
WR Jerry Jeudy (Jr.)
DEFENSE (7)
DE Raekwon Davis (Sr.)
OLB Anfernee Jennings (Sr.)
ILB Dylan Moses (Jr.)
CB Trevon Diggs (Sr.)
CB Patrick Surtain III (So.)
S Xavier McKinney (Jr.)
How did they fare in 2018?
Was 2018 a successful year for Alabama? For a program that is judged on championships, last year can be seen as a disappointment.
The Crimson Tide cruised through the regular season, on the way to their 7th national title game appearance since 2009.
However, the season was ended unlike any before in recent memory for Alabama. Clemson smacked the Crimson Tide by a final score of 44-16, opening up the door for questions in regards to Bama’s mortality.
Best Returning Player…
QB Tua Tagovailoa
The Crimson Tide machine begins and ends with one of the best quarterbacks in the country under center.
Tagovailoa set the CFB world on fire a year ago, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 43 total TD.
While there are playmakers all over the field, the Crimson Tide’s national title hopes go down the tube without #13 under center.
Overall Outlook…
First off, who can forget that magical October afternoon in 2010:
South Carolina remains the last team from the SEC East to defeat the Crimson Tide, winning 35-21 nine years ago in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Alabama comes into this season looking to erase the horrid memories of a blowout loss to Clemson in the national title and get back to their eighth national championship game since 2009.
Expect the Gamecocks to pull out all the 2010 magic they can, from wearing the same uniforms to hype videos to even having Stephen Garcia lead the “GAME-COCKS” chant to start the game.
Still, it will be a tall task to ask South Carolina to pull the upset over an Alabama team who will no doubt be on a mission this fall.
2019 SEASON PROJECTION: 13-0 (8-0)
