GCF Discussion, Preview & Prediction Thread Week 1 Talking Georgia St.
August 29, 2022
Georgia State is inevitably going to try to run the football behind their experienced offensive line, Malik Sumter was a Second-Team All-Sun Belt center, and Pat Bartlett was a Third Team All-Sun Belt guard. In fact, they have nearly their entire OL back, besides Guard Shamarious Gilmore, who is now on the Seattle Seahawks roster for NFL OTAs. They have two experienced runners in Senior Tucker Gregg, who has 310 carries, 1,560 yards (5 ypc), 16 TD in 4 seasons with the Panthers, and another name Gamecock fans will remember in former CB turned RB Jamyest Williams who has carved out a role with 175 carries, 1,112 yards (6.4 ypc), 9 TD over his two seasons playing a new position at Georgia State.
That's not to mention the constant struggle that Gamecock teams have had with dual-threat QBs, and the Panthers have a pretty good one in Senior QB Darren Grainger. There's nothing eye-popping about the Conway, SC native's passing stats, though he did throw 19 TDs to 4 picks last year and he sits right around 60% accuracy for his career. He's a very real threat as a runner tacking on 646 yards and three scores last season. Many may remember the fits he gave Auburn last year in a closer than it looks on paper 34-24 loss for the Panthers when he ran 17 times and threw 2 TDs. The biggest receiving threat for the Panthers, especially in the red zone, might be TE Aubrey Payne who caught seven TDs in 2021. Their top receiver Sam Pinckney transferred to Coastal Carolina, but they still have a few other options including Jamari Thrash and Ja’Cyais Credle that can take advantage, despite the low passing volume of this offense.
The Gamecocks need to make it a priority to stack the box, slow down the run, and keep Grainger in the pocket to force him to beat them with his arm, which he's rarely shown the ability to do consistently, he only exceeded 200 yards passing 3 times last season. If South Carolina can get an early lead, and force the Panthers into passing situations, they shouldn't have a ton of trouble in this one, but this veteran offense will certainly rack up some yardage at times in this game.
All in all, this defense, and Georgia State team at large is filled with Juniors and Seniors who are eager to knock off an SEC opponent, especially one their coach spent many years at. In fact, the entire starting 22 of Georgia State is likely only planning to start one underclassman, RS SO Safety Jalen Tate. The other 21 starters are all Juniors or Seniors.
Player to watch out for: Quarterback Darren Grainger, who transferred from Furman, was critical to the Panthers’ mid-season resurgence last year, throwing 19 touchdowns against just four interceptions (in 228 attempts!) while also adding 646 yards and three scores on the ground (good for a 4.8 yards per carrying average).
Another storyline for you: Former South Carolina cornerback Jamyest Williams is now part of a veteran 1-2 punch at tailback for the Panthers, turning in 859 yards and nine touchdowns last season alongside fellow senior Tucker Gregg (953 yards, nine scores). With 15 returning starters, the Panthers placed eight players all together on the Sun Belt’s all-conference preseason teams, which was tied for most with heavyweight Appalachian State.
How would Georgia State Win
The Panther offensive line is strong enough to be good from the start. South Carolina’s defensive front might be good, but the Georgia State running game is going to be dangerous, the rotation of backs will be solid, and the receiving corps is among the best in the Sun Belt.The Gamecocks need their pass rush to step up. They were great in the bowl game, but they struggled to get behind the line over the second half of the season. If they can’t get to Georgia State QB Darren Grainger, look out.
South Carolina fans will be looking for explosion out of the upgraded attack, but as long as Rattler is his accurate self, and if the offense is moving on third downs, everything else should work. The Georgia State secondary isn’t good enough to take over if Rattler gets into a groove.
South Carolina vs Georgia State Prediction
South Carolina 45, Georgia State 20
Line: South Carolina -12, o/u: 57
August 29, 2022
Panthers' Offense
Georgia State is inevitably going to try to run the football behind their experienced offensive line, Malik Sumter was a Second-Team All-Sun Belt center, and Pat Bartlett was a Third Team All-Sun Belt guard. In fact, they have nearly their entire OL back, besides Guard Shamarious Gilmore, who is now on the Seattle Seahawks roster for NFL OTAs. They have two experienced runners in Senior Tucker Gregg, who has 310 carries, 1,560 yards (5 ypc), 16 TD in 4 seasons with the Panthers, and another name Gamecock fans will remember in former CB turned RB Jamyest Williams who has carved out a role with 175 carries, 1,112 yards (6.4 ypc), 9 TD over his two seasons playing a new position at Georgia State.That's not to mention the constant struggle that Gamecock teams have had with dual-threat QBs, and the Panthers have a pretty good one in Senior QB Darren Grainger. There's nothing eye-popping about the Conway, SC native's passing stats, though he did throw 19 TDs to 4 picks last year and he sits right around 60% accuracy for his career. He's a very real threat as a runner tacking on 646 yards and three scores last season. Many may remember the fits he gave Auburn last year in a closer than it looks on paper 34-24 loss for the Panthers when he ran 17 times and threw 2 TDs. The biggest receiving threat for the Panthers, especially in the red zone, might be TE Aubrey Payne who caught seven TDs in 2021. Their top receiver Sam Pinckney transferred to Coastal Carolina, but they still have a few other options including Jamari Thrash and Ja’Cyais Credle that can take advantage, despite the low passing volume of this offense.
The Gamecocks need to make it a priority to stack the box, slow down the run, and keep Grainger in the pocket to force him to beat them with his arm, which he's rarely shown the ability to do consistently, he only exceeded 200 yards passing 3 times last season. If South Carolina can get an early lead, and force the Panthers into passing situations, they shouldn't have a ton of trouble in this one, but this veteran offense will certainly rack up some yardage at times in this game.
Panthers' Defense
It still remains to be seen how effective South Carolina's offense can be under new QB Spencer Rattler and second-year OC Marcus Satterfield. The Gamecocks will get their first test against an experienced and effective defense in Georgia State's unit. The strength of the defense lies in their LBs and EDGE rushers. OLB Jamil Muhammad led the team with 6 sacks last season and both Blake Carroll and Jordan Veneziale are senior starters at LB who combine tons of experience with exceptional talent. Carroll finished third-team All-Sun Belt and the pair of ILBs combined for 186 tackles in 2021. South Carolina will need to find a way to be more consistent with the run game this season, on the back of a deep stable of RBs including MarShawn Lloyd, Christian Beal-Smith, and JuJu McDowell. If they can establish the run, that should take some pressure off the strength of the Georgia State's pass rush and give Rattler and company some time to pick apart an experienced, but streaky secondary, though they are led by two-time All-Sun Belt Safety Antavious Lane who has amassed 136 tackles and 9 interceptions – 2 for scores, over the last two seasons.All in all, this defense, and Georgia State team at large is filled with Juniors and Seniors who are eager to knock off an SEC opponent, especially one their coach spent many years at. In fact, the entire starting 22 of Georgia State is likely only planning to start one underclassman, RS SO Safety Jalen Tate. The other 21 starters are all Juniors or Seniors.
Player to watch out for: Quarterback Darren Grainger, who transferred from Furman, was critical to the Panthers’ mid-season resurgence last year, throwing 19 touchdowns against just four interceptions (in 228 attempts!) while also adding 646 yards and three scores on the ground (good for a 4.8 yards per carrying average).
Another storyline for you: Former South Carolina cornerback Jamyest Williams is now part of a veteran 1-2 punch at tailback for the Panthers, turning in 859 yards and nine touchdowns last season alongside fellow senior Tucker Gregg (953 yards, nine scores). With 15 returning starters, the Panthers placed eight players all together on the Sun Belt’s all-conference preseason teams, which was tied for most with heavyweight Appalachian State.
How would Georgia State Win
The Panther offensive line is strong enough to be good from the start. South Carolina’s defensive front might be good, but the Georgia State running game is going to be dangerous, the rotation of backs will be solid, and the receiving corps is among the best in the Sun Belt.The Gamecocks need their pass rush to step up. They were great in the bowl game, but they struggled to get behind the line over the second half of the season. If they can’t get to Georgia State QB Darren Grainger, look out.
Reason Gamecocks' will win
Can the Georgia State defense get off the field? It was okay last season, but there isn’t a ton of bulk up front. The D is once again going to rely on big plays and takeaways to get the job done. Now the Panthers have to deal with an upgraded Gamecock passing game with a fantastic receiving corps for new QB Spencer Rattler to throw to.South Carolina fans will be looking for explosion out of the upgraded attack, but as long as Rattler is his accurate self, and if the offense is moving on third downs, everything else should work. The Georgia State secondary isn’t good enough to take over if Rattler gets into a groove.
The Prediction
Georgia State can be dangerous they should have beaten Auburn last season. Auburn found itself on the winning side of a 34-24, but it was a lot closer than that with the Panthers coming way too close to being able to pull off the giant road shocker early last year. Georgia State is very good, it’s not going to be fazed by the SEC setting, and the Gamecock offense might not be razor-sharp out of the box. However, the Gamecocks' lines will take over, the defense will settle in, and Rattler will be great in the second half. South Carolina will eventually pull away.South Carolina vs Georgia State Prediction
South Carolina 45, Georgia State 20
Line: South Carolina -12, o/u: 57
