What's up next Tennessee South Carolina's final home game for 2022 here is the first look
Nov. 14, 2022
South Carolina will compete in Williams-Brice Stadium one last time in 2022. The Gamecocks host the 9-1 Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night. The Vols are No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff standings. They just put up 66 points on Missouri a Missouri team that held South Carolina to 10 points at home. South Carolina dropped its last game to Florida and returns to Columbia after two games on the road.
Tennessee is coached by Josh Heupel, who like coach Shane Beamer is in his second season with the team. South Carolina had a 35% chance of winning on Saturday, according to the Massey Rating analytics that calculates how likely a team is to win a given game.
GAMECOCKS LOSING STEAM
South Carolina has dropped two of its last three games after winning four straight. The Gamecocks didn’t get the big plays they grew accustomed to getting in those losses, other than the successful fake punt touchdown pass from Kai Kroeger to Dakereon Joyner. The team totaled just 16 points in those two losses — to Missouri and Florida — and struggled mightily in the run game. MarShawn Lloyd was injured against Mizzou and missed the next two games. Without his productivity, the USC offense becomes much less efficient. The final two games for the Gamecocks come against two of the top 10 teams in the nation, which doesn’t leave much room for error.
LOSING STREAK AGAINST THE VOLS
South Carolina has lost each of the last three meetings against Tennessee. The last time USC defeated the Volunteers was at home in 2018. The Gamecocks were coached by Will Muschamp, and they won 27-24 on a late field goal. Rico Dowdle led the way with 140 rushing yards and a touchdown. Since then, Tennessee has averaged 39 points per game in the series.
In Beamer’s debut game against Tennessee last year, the Vols raced out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 45-20 win.
TENNESSEE CHASES COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
Tennessee sits at No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Its lone loss came on the road against No. 1 Georgia, but it bounced back with a 66-point outing against Missouri. The Vols have not made the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2015. The squad hasn’t won 10 games since 2007 under head coach Phillip Fulmer. Heupel won 10 or more games twice in three years with UCF. As the Volunteers head into their last two games, they’ll be looking to secure their spot in the field. This gives USC the chance to play the role of the spoiler on Saturday.
GAMECOCKS PLAYERS TO WATCH
Antwane Wells, WR, South Carolina: Wells leads South Carolina in receptions, yards and touchdowns. The James Madison transfer has totaled as many as 189 yards in a game this year. A frequent target for the Gamecocks, Wells could make some plays for them in the home finale.
Cam Smith, DB, South Carolina: Smith is regarded as a player with NFL talent. He’s only intercepted one pass this year largely due to his disruptive playmaking in the secondary. Smith blocked a field goal against Florida.
VOLUNTEERS PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee: Hooker is in the midst of a Heisman campaign for the Volunteers. He’s thrown 24 touchdowns to just two interceptions, and has run for an additional five touchdowns through 10 games. Hooker threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns against USC last year.
Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee: Hyatt leads the SEC with 1,116 receiving yards, clearing the next player by 393 yards. He’s projected by Sports Illustrated as a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Hyatt is originally from Irmo, South Carolina.
Nov. 14, 2022
South Carolina will compete in Williams-Brice Stadium one last time in 2022. The Gamecocks host the 9-1 Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night. The Vols are No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff standings. They just put up 66 points on Missouri a Missouri team that held South Carolina to 10 points at home. South Carolina dropped its last game to Florida and returns to Columbia after two games on the road.
Tennessee is coached by Josh Heupel, who like coach Shane Beamer is in his second season with the team. South Carolina had a 35% chance of winning on Saturday, according to the Massey Rating analytics that calculates how likely a team is to win a given game.
GAMECOCKS LOSING STEAM
South Carolina has dropped two of its last three games after winning four straight. The Gamecocks didn’t get the big plays they grew accustomed to getting in those losses, other than the successful fake punt touchdown pass from Kai Kroeger to Dakereon Joyner. The team totaled just 16 points in those two losses — to Missouri and Florida — and struggled mightily in the run game. MarShawn Lloyd was injured against Mizzou and missed the next two games. Without his productivity, the USC offense becomes much less efficient. The final two games for the Gamecocks come against two of the top 10 teams in the nation, which doesn’t leave much room for error.
LOSING STREAK AGAINST THE VOLS
South Carolina has lost each of the last three meetings against Tennessee. The last time USC defeated the Volunteers was at home in 2018. The Gamecocks were coached by Will Muschamp, and they won 27-24 on a late field goal. Rico Dowdle led the way with 140 rushing yards and a touchdown. Since then, Tennessee has averaged 39 points per game in the series.
In Beamer’s debut game against Tennessee last year, the Vols raced out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 45-20 win.
TENNESSEE CHASES COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
Tennessee sits at No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Its lone loss came on the road against No. 1 Georgia, but it bounced back with a 66-point outing against Missouri. The Vols have not made the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2015. The squad hasn’t won 10 games since 2007 under head coach Phillip Fulmer. Heupel won 10 or more games twice in three years with UCF. As the Volunteers head into their last two games, they’ll be looking to secure their spot in the field. This gives USC the chance to play the role of the spoiler on Saturday.
GAMECOCKS PLAYERS TO WATCH
Antwane Wells, WR, South Carolina: Wells leads South Carolina in receptions, yards and touchdowns. The James Madison transfer has totaled as many as 189 yards in a game this year. A frequent target for the Gamecocks, Wells could make some plays for them in the home finale.
Cam Smith, DB, South Carolina: Smith is regarded as a player with NFL talent. He’s only intercepted one pass this year largely due to his disruptive playmaking in the secondary. Smith blocked a field goal against Florida.
VOLUNTEERS PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee: Hooker is in the midst of a Heisman campaign for the Volunteers. He’s thrown 24 touchdowns to just two interceptions, and has run for an additional five touchdowns through 10 games. Hooker threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns against USC last year.
Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee: Hyatt leads the SEC with 1,116 receiving yards, clearing the next player by 393 yards. He’s projected by Sports Illustrated as a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Hyatt is originally from Irmo, South Carolina.