Here is the preview, including predictions, weather, live stream and TV info on the Tennessee vs South Carolina game. The Vols host the Gamecocks Saturday.
The Tennessee Volunteers football team is set to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in an SEC showdown in Knoxville, Tenn. later Saturday afternoon.
Both teams enter with a bit of momentum, although that is much higher for Butch Jones’s squad than it is for Shawn Elliott’s squad at this point.
Tennessee is obviously looking to continue its newfound momentum gained ever since the 24-3 comeback victory over the Georgia Bulldogs four weeks ago. They are also looking for their first two-game winning streak on the season and to get back to a winning record for the first time since game three.
A win here would propel the Vols to 5-4 and keep them on the right path to a very strong finish to the football season.
Meanwhile, the South Carolina Gamecocks have been in turmoil all year. The 2-4 start with losses to the Missouri Tigers and Kentucky Wildcats is not what they had in mind to start the year, and Steve Spurrier’s resignation obviously made things even more dramatic.
However, the Gamecocks have found a bit of a rhythm under Elliott with Perry Orth as the starting quarterback, having beaten the Vanderbilt Commodores and taking the Texas A&M Aggies down to the wire.
At 3-5, a bowl game seems impossible, but if they can pull an upset Saturday, a win over The Citadel is inevitable to guarantee this team five wins. They then somehow have to find a way to beat the Florida Gators or Clemson Tigers. But at least that’s only one necessary upset if they beat the Vols.
Here is the official information on the game.
Who: Tennessee vs South Carolina
Nicknames: Volunteers and Gamecocks
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.
When: Saturday, 4 p.m. E.T.
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Line: Tennessee by 17
Over/Under: 58.5
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For the Vols, sticking to the running game is the most important thing they can do to win this football game. South Carolina’s rush defense has been weak all season long, but they have created turnovers when teams try to throw the ball on them.
Butch Jones, Joshua Dobbs, and Mike DeBord should not give them that chance.
Meanwhile, on defense, they have got to get pressure and make sure they can contain Perry Orth’s mobility. A couple of big returns would not hurt in making this game a heck of a lot easier.
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Meanwhile, the Gamecocks should focus on rolling Perry Orth out as much as possible when they do throw it to give him the option of running it. The Vols have shown to have some problems stopping the run and South Carolina should take advantage.
Meanwhile, Elliott’s biggest initiative needs to be establishing Brandon Wilds in the run game. With the Vols weak in the rushing attack and Wilds’s skill set, he can do even more than Orth can to torch them.
If that happens, and if the South Carolina defense makes a few plays, they have a shot to win this game.
Prediction
The All for Tennessee staff was unanimous in its prediction that the Vols would take care of the South Carolina Gamecocks easily. Tennessee was picked by 17, 18, and 24 points. The average score was the Vols winning 42-23.
That is close to the 17-point line that Vegas has on the Vols right now. Tennessee is just on too much of a roll, and the Gamecocks simply are not good enough to hang with the Vols at Neyland Stadium.
Next: Three Keys for Vols and Gamecocks Each on Saturday
Weather Forecast
The Weather Channel is calling for 56 Degrees at Kickoff with a 50 percent chance of showers. However, it is expected to dry up within the first hour of the game and simply remain cloudy, while the temperature remains in the low to mid-50s.