South Carolina vs LSU Week 4 Betting Preview

Coach Spurrier and his charges prepare for No. 2-ranked LSU

Sept 21st, 2007

By Jason Brough
Bodog Nation Contributing Writers

The South Carolina Gamecocks (3-0) already have one major upset to their credit. On Saturday, they'll look to make it two, though the task will be significantly more difficult.

A 16-12 win between the hedges at Georgia in Week 2 was the Steve Spurrier-led squad's first major accomplishment of the season. But if the Gamecocks beat 17-point favorite LSU (3-0) at Tiger Stadium, the Bulldogs will seem like Temple. That's how good the Tigers have been.

Consider LSU's first three results: 45-0 over Mississippi State, 48-7 over Virginia Tech and 44-0 over Middle Tennessee. Add it up, and the Tigers are winning the 2007 college football season by a score of 137-7.

But that doesn't mean coach Les Miles is taking his next opponent lightly, even though LSU is 9-1 all-time against the Gamecocks when playing in Baton Rouge.

"I think South Carolina will be a great test for our football team," Miles said. "We are still in a position where we must improve. Our football team must have a standard improvement on a weekly basis... As long as we understand that and come to work every day, we will do well and look forward to Saturday."

Miles' coaching counterpart Spurrier has enjoyed tremendous success versus LSU in his career, to the tune of 11 victories and just one loss. Of course, that record was compiled during his years at Florida. South Carolina, on the other hand, isn't quite the same football factory.

To its credit, SC has had three straight winning seasons for a combined record of 21-15 since 2004. However, in the previous six seasons, it was 28-42, including an 0-11 disaster in 1999, the first under the legendary Lou Holtz.

Preparing for the Tigers

If Miles has respect for the Gamecocks, Spurrier has even more for LSU. He even voted them No. 1 on his USA Today coaches' poll ballot.

"Between LSU, Oklahoma and Southern Cal, it's pretty much a coin flip," Spurrier said. "But since LSU is in the SEC and we're playing them this week, I voted them No. 1."If the Gamecocks are to pull off a bayou miracle, they'll need to figure out what's arguably the best defense in the nation – one that's allowing a measly 128 yards per game.

"Over time, our guys have become more confident and more knowledgeable, and the understanding of the system has grown," LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini said. "We're at a point right now that I haven't had the luxury of being at since I've been in college football."

It's a tough assignment for SC's offensive leaders: quarterback Blake Mitchell, running back Cory Boyd and receiver Kenny McKinley.

Fifth-year senior Mitchell has completed 65 percent of his passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. That's fine, but his three interceptions are not. The Tigers are serious ball hawks. LSU safety Craig Steltz picked off three passes against Mississippi State and has four on the year.

"We were totally amazed that he got three," Steltz' father Keith Steltz said. "But he's always been a ball hawk. He's always been able to get in the right place. Craig tells me Bo Pelini (LSU defensive coordinator) is one of the best in the business, and he tells me Pelini always has them in the right spot at the right time."

Coaches Say the Darndest Things

Not only will Mitchell have to deal with the LSU defense, he might also have a problem with his coach. When asked by reporters if the senior's experience would help against LSU, Spurrier gave a rather testy reply. "Yeah, I guess so," Spurrier said, "if your senior's a good player."

Granted, if you believe Mitchell's teammates, the coach's criticism won't affect the quarterback's confidence one bit.

"It's funny. Blake never lets anything bother him," Boyd said. "I'm not worried about him mentally. It's never a question.

"It's something I like about him. He takes a challenge, and this is a challenge. It's definitely going to be a challenge to go down there to play. I'm looking forward to seeing exactly what he's going to do."

As for Boyd, he had his own problems with a coach this week, but it wasn't Spurrier. It was Miles, who accidentally referred to him as "Cory Byrd" during a press conference, a slipup that might belie the coach's aforementioned respect of SC.

Boyd has rushed 39 times this year for 255 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and has scored four touchdowns.

"That's something our strength coaches spoke to us about today in the weight room," Boyd said. "They said the guys don't even know us over there. They act like we're nobodies.

"They're looking over us. I like it. You don't have to know my name."

Of course, for Gamecocks fans, it would be nice if their team's anonymity changed by the end of Saturday's game.

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