While teams are just beginning spring practices, we're already looking forward to the regular season. Sure, it is still a good six months away, but it's never too early to think about everything that comes with college football and the games that actually matter.
South Carolina is a team that has a shot to win the SEC this season.
The Gamecocks return 14 starters, including eight on the offensive side of the ball. The defense is absolutely loaded and showed some of its potential last season, racking up 31 sacks and forcing 32 turnovers. This is a very dangerous team that every member of the SEC should have its eye on.
There are a few games that the Gamecocks must win in order for this season to be as successful as many think it could be.
Here they are.
The Gamecocks won last year's meeting against Georgia, but that was before the Bulldogs really began hitting their stride at the end of the year.
Georgia is another fantastic team in the SEC, and it returns the majority of its key players on offense and nine starters on the defensive side of the ball.
South Carolina has lost four of the last five meetings against Georgia at home, and this will be just the beginning of difficult early tests for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina and LSU have only met a total of 19 times, but for whatever reason, the Gamecocks have only won two of those meetings.
If there's ever been a time to snap such a horrible losing streak against a team, this is it. The Tigers lost half their starters from a year ago and are going through a transition with a new starting quarterback.
Now, this doesn't mean that the Tigers are going to be a pushover; this is still an extremely talented team, and the game is being held in Tiger Stadium. But it's a game the Gamecocks must win, especially if they want to be conference contenders.
This will mark the third straight must-win for the Gamecocks, and it won't be easy with a second straight road game in a hostile environment.
The Gators always play South Carolina tough, and before the last two seasons, the Gamecocks didn't have much success against Florida. Not counting the last two victories against the Gators, South Carolina lost 18 of the last 19 meetings.
Florida didn't have the success last season we're all used to seeing, but it does return 18 starters, including 10 on defense.
The game being played in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium also won't make things any easier.
South Carolina has lost five of the last six meetings against the Razorbacks, the last three losses coming by double digits.
Arkansas has to be one of the favorites to win the SEC this season, as it returns seven starters on offense and should get a healthy Knile Davis at running back.
The good news for Gamecock fans is that this game will be played in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Although this is another difficult game for South Carolina, it's one the Gamecocks must win to prepare this program to take that next step of winning a national championship.
The Gamecocks won last year's meeting by three touchdowns, but they shouldn't expect that same flat Tigers team again.
This time around, Clemson returns 14 starters, including seven on the offensive side of the ball. The Tigers are simply loaded with playmakers and have the talent to compete with any team in any conference.
I can imagine Clemson is very disappointed with the way its season ended, which should give the Tigers more than enough motivation to wake up for this contest.
It's also the last game of the season, so the last thing South Carolina could afford is a loss, especially if it's in the race for a BCS bowl and possibly the SEC title.
link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1115333-south-carolina-football-5-games-the-gamecocks-must-win-in-2012?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=south-carolina-football#/articles/1115333-south-carolina-football-5-games-the-gamecocks-must-win-in-2012
South Carolina is a team that has a shot to win the SEC this season.
The Gamecocks return 14 starters, including eight on the offensive side of the ball. The defense is absolutely loaded and showed some of its potential last season, racking up 31 sacks and forcing 32 turnovers. This is a very dangerous team that every member of the SEC should have its eye on.
There are a few games that the Gamecocks must win in order for this season to be as successful as many think it could be.
Here they are.
The Gamecocks won last year's meeting against Georgia, but that was before the Bulldogs really began hitting their stride at the end of the year.
Georgia is another fantastic team in the SEC, and it returns the majority of its key players on offense and nine starters on the defensive side of the ball.
South Carolina has lost four of the last five meetings against Georgia at home, and this will be just the beginning of difficult early tests for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina and LSU have only met a total of 19 times, but for whatever reason, the Gamecocks have only won two of those meetings.
If there's ever been a time to snap such a horrible losing streak against a team, this is it. The Tigers lost half their starters from a year ago and are going through a transition with a new starting quarterback.
Now, this doesn't mean that the Tigers are going to be a pushover; this is still an extremely talented team, and the game is being held in Tiger Stadium. But it's a game the Gamecocks must win, especially if they want to be conference contenders.
This will mark the third straight must-win for the Gamecocks, and it won't be easy with a second straight road game in a hostile environment.
The Gators always play South Carolina tough, and before the last two seasons, the Gamecocks didn't have much success against Florida. Not counting the last two victories against the Gators, South Carolina lost 18 of the last 19 meetings.
Florida didn't have the success last season we're all used to seeing, but it does return 18 starters, including 10 on defense.
The game being played in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium also won't make things any easier.
South Carolina has lost five of the last six meetings against the Razorbacks, the last three losses coming by double digits.
Arkansas has to be one of the favorites to win the SEC this season, as it returns seven starters on offense and should get a healthy Knile Davis at running back.
The good news for Gamecock fans is that this game will be played in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Although this is another difficult game for South Carolina, it's one the Gamecocks must win to prepare this program to take that next step of winning a national championship.
The Gamecocks won last year's meeting by three touchdowns, but they shouldn't expect that same flat Tigers team again.
This time around, Clemson returns 14 starters, including seven on the offensive side of the ball. The Tigers are simply loaded with playmakers and have the talent to compete with any team in any conference.
I can imagine Clemson is very disappointed with the way its season ended, which should give the Tigers more than enough motivation to wake up for this contest.
It's also the last game of the season, so the last thing South Carolina could afford is a loss, especially if it's in the race for a BCS bowl and possibly the SEC title.
link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1115333-south-carolina-football-5-games-the-gamecocks-must-win-in-2012?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=south-carolina-football#/articles/1115333-south-carolina-football-5-games-the-gamecocks-must-win-in-2012