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Five predictions for Gamecocks-Georgia

Will Rico Dowdle get 12 or more carries on Sunday? (Gamecock Central)

South Carolina hosts Georgia Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in a SEC East clash rescheduled due to Hurricane Matthew, which has wreaked havoc in the Palmetto State for the past two days. How will the Gamecocks fare as they approach the midway point of the 2016 season? We have 5 Predictions:

1. Two Gamecock quarterbacks will combine for more passing yards than Georgia’s Jacob Eason: For all the hype and hysteria surrounding Eason since he arrived on the Georgia campus, the crown jewel of the Bulldogs’ 2016 recruiting class has thrown for more than 215 yards just once in his first four starts and has completed just 53.6 percent of his passes (81-154). His lack of mobility (and shoddy offensive line play) is evidenced by the fact he has been sacked 10 times in the last three games. Where does Eason rank among the Top 10 SEC quarterbacks in passing efficiency? Trick question. He doesn’t. So, while Eason is blessed with an abundance of talent and should develop into an outstanding quarterback one day, he is currently enduring the expected trials and tribulations of a young quarterback. Sunday, he’ll throw against a Gamecock secondary allowing 201.8 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, USC’s tandem of Brandon McIlwain and Perry Orth haven’t been spectacular either, but the return of Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards, along with an improved rushing attack and Georgia’s lowly conference ranking in pass defense (10th in SEC) should bolster the Gamecocks passing game.

2. Rico Dowdle will have at least 12 rushing attempts: Gamecock Nation finally got their first glimpse at Dowdle last Saturday in the loss to Texas A&M and first impressions had to be positive. He displayed all the attributes that made him a high school phenom at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, NC – speed, quickness, agility and strength. Dowdle finished with 47 yards on 9 carries even though Will Muschamp was just testing the waters to see how Dowdle would respond to a live game situation. Because he passed with flying colors, look for Dowdle to get even more carries this week.

3. The Gamecocks will score every time in the red zone: Two statistics lean in the Gamecocks favor in this game – red zone and kickoff returns (see below). Georgia is last in the SEC in red zone defense (94.1 scoring pct.) and has allowed 12 touchdowns in 17 trips inside the red zone by opposing offenses. Eight of those TDs have been though the air, defying conventional wisdom throwing the football inside the 20-yard line is more challenging because of the constricted space vertically. Granted, the Gamecocks are last in the SEC in red zone offense (64.3 pct.) with just six RZ touchdowns, but here is where the return of Samuels and Edwards, together with the presence of tight Hayden Hurst, should increase USC’s red zone efficiency. The Gamecocks have more weapons to score in the red zone.

4. The Gamecocks will have at least one kickoff return of 40 or more yards: Gamecock Nation has complained about poor special teams play for years, especially kickoff returns and kickoff coverage. Did the Gamecocks finally turn a corner with A.J., Turner’s 80 yard return on the opening kickoff against East Carolina? Heading into Week 6, USC finds itself in unfamiliar territory – leading the SEC in kickoff returns with an average of 28.4 yards per return. Turner, improved blocking and a better scheme have inspired the change for the better. Georgia is last in the SEC in kickoff coverage with a 38.2 yard net. Why the lowly ranking considering the Bulldogs have the talent and resources to rank among the top six or seven teams in that category? A lack of touchbacks, for one thing. Less than 25 percent of Georgia’s kickoffs have produced a touchback (6 of 26), the lowest percentage in the SEC. When you keep the ball in play on kickoffs, you’re begging for the opponent to make a big play.

5. Along with the new clear-bag policy, Gamecock officials will inform fans entering Williams-Brice Stadium that playing, humming or singing the Scorpions metal anthem ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane’ is forbidden: In view of the song’s sexually explicit lyrics, I’m always amazed when I hear ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane’ played in a public venue. But the song is also inappropriate in situations like this one when a real life hurricane blows through. With much of the Lowcountry under water, banning the 33-year old song for one afternoon shouldn’t hurt anybody. There were a few cases in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 where teams hosting LSU or the New Orleans Saints played ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane.’ Hey, timing is everything in life. Not now, not how. Another Scorpions song off the classic 'Love At First Sting' album would be better, especially if the Gamecocks get the running game going - "Bad Boys Running Wild."

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Should the heavy metal classic 'Rock You Like a Hurricane' be banned from Williams-Brice Stadium on Sunday? You decide.

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