WHOO-HOO!!!! DISCUSSION GAMEDAY THREAD: USC VS Kentucky Saturday Game-Time "7:30 pm ET" Inspired by cocky0
For detailed accounts & discussion with your fellow Gamecocks (PS SEND ALL WHOO-HOO!!!! To cocky0 for his records by PM.)
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WHAT TIME DO THE GAMECOCKS PLAY?
Who: Kentucky (2-2, 0-2 SEC) at South Carolina (1-3, 0-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250), Columbia, S.C.
TV: SEC Network (Tom Hart, play-by-play; Jordan Rodgers, analysis; Cole Cubelic, sideline)
Radio: 107.5 FM (Todd Ellis, play-by-play; Tommy Suggs, analysis; Jamar Nesbit, sideline) ... See all the radio affiliates around the state here.
Satellite radio: Sirius 136/XM 190
Stream: WatchESPN
Line: South Carolina by 3
Gamecock Walk: Approx. 5:15 pm through Gamecock Park
Series history: South Carolina leads the all-time series 17-12-1. The Wildcats have a five-game winning streak after losing 13 of 14.
Weather: Partly cloudy. Temperature around 85 at kickoff, 78 at the end of the game. Chance of precipitation is 2% throughout.
THE GAME
South Carolina has lost a pair of potentially winnable games against Missouri and UNC and can ill-afford to drop another one. Even with a win here, the Gamecocks need an upset later on in the schedule to get to a bowl. Without a win, that bowl dream is done barring two surprise wins.
There’s the little matter of the five-game UK winning streak, a black mark South Carolina would like to remove. The players said it’s just another game, but that history has some weight when it comes to fan sentiment.
Kentucky is in a bit of a reset season after double-digit wins last year, but after two SEC losses, the Wildcats could use this one. Their schedule sets up well for a seven-win season, and this could put them on the path to eight.
SOUTH CAROLINA PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Quarterback Ryan Hilinski had a rough outing in his first road start and now has a little more on him. News broke Thursday that backup QB Dakereon Joyner will be held out of Saturday’s game for precautionary reasons. This season, Hilinski has thrown for 772 yards, five score and three interceptions.
2. Wide receiver Shi Smith has been good in spots this season but has yet to have that big statistical day. The Wildcats have been an average passing defense against some not-great passing offenses. Smith has 190 yards and a touchdown on 16 catches this year.
3. Sophomore safety R.J. Roderick will be called upon a little more now that Jamyest Williams has decided to transfer. He also could be needed because he’s probably South Carolina’s most sturdy defensive back and the Wildcats rely on a downhill running game. For the season, Roderick has 23 tackles, third on the team, one sack and one interception.
KENTUCKY PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Kash Daniel is as polarizing as SEC players come in 2019. The Kentucky linebacker was held out of the starting lineup Saturday at Mississippi State for his alleged twist of Florida quarterback Kyle Trask’s ankle the previous week. Daniel was ejected for targeting during last season’s South Carolina game.
2. After an injury to Terry Wilson, Kentucky has turned to Sawyer Smith at quarterback. The Troy transfer is 0-2 as a starter with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
3. Like he was for a lot of SEC defenses, Benny Snell was a thorn in South Carolina’s side. But Snell’s no longer in UK’s backfield, leaving the spotlight for Asim Rose. The junior running back is coming off a nine-carry, 105-yard showing in the Mississippi State loss.
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