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Tennessee football at South Carolina: 10 keys to the game for Vols and Gamecocks

By Caleb Calhoun

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer saw his team fall behind early on Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football Bp
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer saw his team fall behind early on Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football Bp /
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Aug 7, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a yellow penalty flag on the field during the Arizona Cardinals Red and White training camp practice at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a yellow penalty flag on the field during the Arizona Cardinals Red and White training camp practice at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Who commits more penalties?

Here’s an area where both teams struggle, and quite honestly, South Carolina has the advantage. The Gamecocks are No. 87 in fewest penalties per game at just under seven, but they are down at No. 104 in fewest penalty yards per game at 62.6. That number has to improve for them to have a chance Saturday night.

Lucky for them, Tennessee football is horrendous at avoiding penalties. The Vols are No. 124 in fewest penalties per game at just under eight and a half, and they are No. 120 in fewest penalty yards per game at 70.5. If South Carolina is going to win this, they have to exploit this weakness and make it an advantage by cutting back on their own issues here.

There’s a chance that’ll happen. Two weeks ago, the Vols were horrendous with pre-snap penalties at the Georgia Bulldogs, which killed multiple drives by their offense into the red zone. Players admitted afterward that the crowd noise got to them.

Well, Williams-Brice Stadium is actually louder than Sanford Stadium, and this will be a night game. Even if South Carolina is nowhere near as good as Georgia, their crowd can get into this. If so, the Vols could fall victim to quite a few more miscues on this front.

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