2013 Gamecock Football Game-by-Game Prediction

Ok, folks. It's that time of year again. Last year, I accurately predicted a 10-2 regular season, with the only problem being I picked the Gamecocks to beat Florida and lose to Arkansas, and the opposite happened, so they kind of washed each other out.

We're now seven days away from kicking off the season.

Anyway, on to the present. Here is the official Permanent Press™ prediction for the 2013 Gamecock Football season. I hope we can work in the tight ends this year the way we successfully did at moments last year. Everyone is telling me that this is going to be the year that the O-line puts it together. I'm skeptical, but I'd sure love for them to be right. Clowney will get double teamed most of the year, but he'll have his moments. I almost hate how much publicity he's received. There's almost no way he can live up to it unless he hurls fireballs from his eyes every play. He'll end up in New York, but I doubt he'll win the Heisman. Carolina will have some young linebackers, but they'll be ok. Here's the detailed game-by-game prediction:

2013 Game by Game Prediction

8/29 North Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks start their 2013 campaign next Thursday against the North Carolina Tarheels. North Carolina has a really nice campus, they have a good coach, but they ain't SEC. This game will probably be close in the first half with UNC running the up-tempo offense, but the Gamecocks size and strength will wear down the Tarheel front seven in the second half. Look for lots of yards from Mike Davis and company.

1-0 (0-0 SEC)

9/7 @Georgia

You know this game is important. I don't have to tell you that. Georgia is not happy about losing to the Gamecocks the last three year. They're going to be mad. They don't like Spurrier, and they look at South Carolina as the little brother who needs to know his place. Sorry, Dawgfans. Carolina wins again in a hard-fought game. I think Shaw's legs are the difference in this game, as he'll scramble out of trouble and put a dagger in the heart late. Clowney and the rest of the D-Line will keep Murray under pressure all night, so it will be up to the Dawg running game to keep the chains moving. They'll do it some, but it won't be enough

2-0 (1-0 SEC)

9/14 Vanderbilt

James Franklin is a great coach. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't have a great football team. Vandy will be breaking in a new quarterback who will be introduced to a nasty D-line. I think this game is going to be a stomping. Carolina goes up early and doesn't look back.

3-0 (2-0 SEC)

9/28 @Central Florida

Not really thrilled with having to go on the road to Central Florida. This is the kind of game that worries me. UCF is now in the AAC, whatever the heck that is. The only thing that gives me confidence is that Spurrier doesn't lose these types of games. I think Central Florida will play the Gamecocks pretty tight, and they might even have the lead early. In the end, the Gamecocks sneak out with a win. I think this is one of those "gut-check" win-ugly kind of games.

4-0 (2-0 SEC)

10/5 Kentucky

The offense will be happy to be back within the confines of Williams-Brice after the trip to Orlando. Kentucky will be the perfect team to beat up on before the big three game road trip that looms large. The offense and the defense will both put up big numbers in this game and give everyone a boost of confidence going into the road trip. We'll need it.

5-0 (3-0 SEC)

10/12 @Arkansas

Dammit. I hate going to Arkansas. I mean, I'm not actually going, but I hate it when the Gamecocks have to go to Arkansas. We never play well there. I don't know if it's the travel or what, but Arkansas just always seems to have our number. I know Arkansas has a new coach that likes to play the Big 10 style of football, but I'm not entirely convinced that the Gamecocks win this game. I'm going to go ahead and call this a stumble on the road in the SEC. I'm so glad they won't be our permanent Western opponent anymore after this year.

5-1 (3-1 SEC)

10/19 @Tennessee

This game scares me, but it doesn't scare me as much as Arkansas. South Carolina doesn't have a great track record in Knoxville, but the Volunteers aren't what they used to be. They'll match up good on the offensive line, and this could be a low-scoring game. I'll take South Carolina by a field goal at the end, but I would not be shocked by a loss here. Disappointed, but not shocked. Any win on the road in the SEC is an achievement. This will the the one road game I attend this year.

6-1 (4-1 SEC)

10/26 @Missouri

We saw the fast paced offense of UNC in the first game, and this is the same type of offense. They're going to try and run the up-tempo style. I'm not too worried about this game, as Mizzou isn't going to have the same quality defense as the Gamecocks. I think the WR corps has a great day in the other Columbia, as Carolina puts up some big numbers on offense and wins by two touchdowns, and I think it's set up by more than two interceptions from the Gamecock defense to put our offense in short yardage situations.

7-1 (5-1 SEC)

11/02 Mississippi State
South Carolina gets to host CLANGA this year, so at least we don't have to go to Starkville and listen to CLANGA. This is a nice draw from the SEC West, as we're dodging Alabama and TAMU. Dan Mullen is a great coach for CLANGA, but he's not going to bring his boys to Williams-Brice and win.

8-1 (6-1 SEC)

11/16 Florida
Last year's game against Florida was awful. We held Florida to under 200 yards, but still lost because we were entirely inept on offense to the point where we just handed the ball to the Gators on the 1 yard line a few times. It was awful. The team will remember this game, and they will be motivated to play better. This will probably be the career defining game for Connor Shaw. If he can beat Florida (and my predictions are right so far) this will seal up the SEC East for South Carolina, and punch our ticket to Atlanta. I think he gets it done in a hard-hitting, slugfest of a low-scoring game. I'm thinking the Gamecocks win in a score of something like 17-14.

9-1 (7-1 SEC) Atlanta Ticket is punched.

11/23 Coastal Carolina
Kind of a week off game. With the ticket already punched for Atlanta and Clemson looming, the starters get pulled early, and the new kids get lots of playing time. My guess is that Carolina will win, but we won't cover the spread with all of our starters sitting on the sideline the entire second half. It's not a bye week, but it's about as close as it gets.

10-1 (7-1 SEC)

11/30 Clemson
Five in a row. That is all.

11-1 (7-1 SEC)

My guess is that we go to Atlanta, face Alabama and lose. I'm not sure where that will put the Gamecocks for a bowl game, but it will be a good season. Not a great season - that would require an SEC title - but it's a good season. Clowney falls a little short of his goal of delivering an SEC title, but winning the SEC isn't easy. It's the de facto national championship until some other conference steps up.

Thoughts? Disagreements? Am I too optimistic? I hope not.