USC @ Auburn 9/25

**jds07v** · 09-20-10, 03:12 PM

I am leaning South Carolina. Just a matter of ML or taking my 2.5 points

**Jasonal_98** · 09-20-10, 03:59 PM

I like South Carolina as well. Auburn will have a tough time beating both SC schools in back-to-back weeks.

**The DiB** · 09-20-10, 04:03 PM

Just a few tidbits on SC... South Carolina has been pretty slouch on the road the last few years. They only have 2 wins under Spurrier on the road against ranked teams. Keep an eye on their injury report; they had 3 guys missing last game from their OL rotation. Won't be able to win @ Auburn without them. Also may get back their leader on defense, MLB Shaq Wilson, who has been out all year with a hammy issue. Going to need him to slow down Auburn's rushing attack.

**agharah1** · 09-20-10, 04:04 PM

I for one am not sold on Auburn's defense and I'm also not sold on Cam Newton. Marcus Lattimore is indeed a game changer to take the pressure off of Stephen Garcia. I still can't understand why Steve Spurrier can't find a decent QB. This year the SEC East is South Carolina's to lose, but they have to win almost all their games to stay ahead of Florida, just in case.

**WorkHorse** · 09-20-10, 07:02 PM

Maybe a potential problem for Auburn. South Carolina's starting wide receivers are 6-foot-4 Alshon Jeffery, 6-5 Tori Gurley and 6-4 D.L. Moore. Auburn's starting defensive backs are corners 5-9 Demond Washington and 6-2 Neiko Thorpe and safeties 5-11 Zac Etheridge and 5-11 Aairon Savage, a potential mismatch the Tigers will have to overcome.

Neither the Tigers nor the Gamecocks have been particularly solid in pass defense so far this season. Auburn ranks 11th in the SEC at 226 yards per game, and South Carolina is last at 267 yards per game.

**Flight** · 09-20-10, 08:17 PM

I agree with WorkHorse, the pass defense's for both teams is poor.

My initial lean is Auburn -2.5, another big win at home for them this week.

**zebo** · 09-20-10, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by mstone897

Line opened up at Auburn -2.5. I have a hard time not leaning USC. Auburn is coming off a physical, tough, and lucky win. Clemson was able to run the ball well and USC should be able to as well with Marcus Lattimore.

My thoughts are what you said about physical game. This game is going to be just as physical and SC will come to play with more gas. They are rested up since they had a cupcake last week. That's enough for me to take away the homefield advantage.
Auburn is lucky to be 3-0 and their competition has only been par.

**james4512** · 09-20-10, 09:54 PM

auburn had problems with the speedy back from clemson whose name is slipping my mind, but lattimore is more of a power back not that fast dont think he will be that big of a problem for auburn. Gotta like the home team here only giving ~2

**Kustac** · 09-20-10, 10:11 PM

tricky game here, south carolina is better than most give them credit for but auburn is a very tough place to play

**dlw902** · 09-20-10, 10:45 PM

Just to address a couple of the points raised here...

Auburn is a run-first team. South Carolina has the #1 ranked rush defense in the Southeastern conference. South Carolina's pass defense is not that bad either. A lot of the yards put up were during garbage time. I know Southern Mississippi put up over 100+ yards in game 1 against SC's 2nd and 3rd string guys. Furman did as well. Ellington is the running back who ran the ball all over Auburn for Clemson. South Carolina has two backs who are just as talented IMO. Kenny Miles is a shifty back like Ellington. I believe he will get some carries but I also believe Lattimore will be used to wear down the Auburn defense. If Stephen Garcia can distribute the ball around without making mistakes, South Carolina will win this game easily. The DB from Auburn did not look all that talented and USC has two of the top wide recievers in college football in Alshon Jeffrey and Tori Gurley. Clemson could not expose their DBs simply because WR is a weak spot for the Tigers.

SC is the play, IMO. I think Auburn has been hyped up to be great... when in reality, they will finish toward the bottom in the SEC-West.

**neila** · 09-20-10, 10:53 PM

This is the best SC team the 'old ball coach' has had. SC by a touch!

**mstone897** · 09-20-10, 11:29 PM

Thanks for the thoughts guys. Keep them coming. USC has 4 RB's that all bring something different to the offense. Lattimore is more a power back but can also turn on the jets. Kenny Miles, their best RB last year can do it all and when healthy can be shifty. Maddox can catch and block and pound it down the middle some. And if he would ever earn Spurrier's trust Jarvis Giles is really shifty and quick. Think any combination of those 4 can be successful verse Auburn. Like stated, USC's WR's seem to have an advantage too. Honestly think this game comes down to Garcia and his ability to command the offense and make good decisions. If he can simply "manage" the game and make a few big throws USC should be able to wear Auburn down in the second half after a tough, physical game the week before. I am leaning USC and waiting on the ML for it as well.

**dherd** · 09-21-10, 04:58 PM

sounds like a south carolina fan began this thread.

**Naz18** · 09-21-10, 05:50 PM

South Carolina will win in honor of McKinley..

**mstone897** · 09-21-10, 08:25 PM

Originally posted by dherd

sounds like a south carolina fan began this thread.

No homer here, actually a VT fan. I'll never bet on them. Just an SEC fan. Don't know what I said that makes me a South Carolina fan.

**dherd** · 09-21-10, 08:32 PM

just the usc reference - my mistake - no offense intended.

**mstone897** · 09-21-10, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by dherd

just the usc reference - my mistake - no offense intended.

Nah, you're good. Just follow SEC football closely and was reading SC's paper online right before I wrote so it was fresh in my head.

**BadNina** · 09-21-10, 11:38 PM

First of all, I am a Bama fan so I am way biased here. Be warned.

That said, I think SC is gonna stomp them. Auburn has problems. Their defense doesn't tackle well. If you have watched any of their games this year you have seen mistackle after mistackle. They also have a tendency to get gassed by the end of games IF their offense plays uptempo as they are advertised. I say if because they haven't done much of that the past 2 games. And in those games, Auburn went 4 quarters (last 2 of the Miss State and first 2 of Clemson) scoring a total of 3 points. South Carolina's defense has been their strong point the past couple of years and is SEC solid. I think the Ol' Ball Coach wins this one and wins it convincinly.