SEC vs. ACC: South Carolina vs. North Carolina Game Preview

Written by James Gray II

Kickoff is nearly here and there will be a huge sigh of relief from football fans come Thursday. The South Carolina Gamecocks and the North Carolina Tar Heels kick off the college football season live on ESPN at 6:00 p.m. ET.

This border rivalry goes all the way back to 1903 with North Carolina owning a 34-18 record over the Gamecocks. However, South Carolina has won the previous two meetings in 2013, 27-10, and in 2007, 21-15. Before those games these two teams had not met since 1992.

Being in two different conferences, many people underestimate the extent of this rivalry. North Carolina has been an underground place for elite talent and has done well with keeping a good portion of those kids at home. Most recently South Carolina has been able to steal two of their finest from the border state. Current Washington Redskins’ corner Chris Culliver came out of Garner and current Gamecock wideout star Pharoh Cooper came from Havelock.

North Carolina didn’t know they had a gem in their state before completely dropping the ball. Cooper had always dreamed of being a Tar Heel, but when they broke a promise of attending the Duke-North Carolina basketball game, Cooper lost trust in the entire staff. Now Cooper a preseason All-American at South Carolina and the leading returning receiver in the SEC, is more than thrilled with his decision to come to Columbia. Cooper has already stated that this game is a little bit more personal to him.

Other players from the state of North Carolina are Isaiah Johnson, the senior starting safety transfer from Kansas which chose South Carolina over North Carolina for the opportunity to start in the SEC. Junior starting linebacker Larenz Bryant is from Charlotte and was the top linebacker in the state coming out of high school. Bryant, a former U.S. Army All-American, is looking to take advantage of his first start at South Carolina.

Redshirt junior Abu Lamin is from Fayetteville and is looking to have a bounce back season. After getting a lot of media exposure heading into last season, many did not live up to the preseason hype. From being an opening starter a year ago, Lamin is currently listed third string at nose tackle and will have to work his way to the field.

We see that South Carolina has had a few nice steals from North Carolina, but the Tar Heels had a nice pluck in senior receiver Quinshad Davis. The former Gaffney star has collected 150 receptions for 1,976 yards with 21 touchdowns for the Tar Heels. Davis is coming off a broken leg injury he suffered on the last play of last season. The former high school All-American is currently tied with former Tar Heel great Hakeem Nicks for most career reception touchdowns.

Heading into Thursday’s match-up, both teams are full of confidence but for different reasons. North Carolina believes that they are undoubtedly a dark horse team and rightfully so returning 10 starters on offense. While the Gamecocks believe they have a revamped defense, with plans of erasing last season’s embarrassment on that side of the ball.

The Tar Heels have one the best dual-threat quarterbacks under center in senior Marquise Williams. Williams standing at 6-foot 2-inches threw for 3,068 yards, 21 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while rushing for 788 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Davis is on track to beat Nicks’ touchdown record, but it is junior Ryan Switzer that is the leading receiver for the Tar Heels. Switzer caught 61 passes for 757 yards and pulled down four touchdowns last season.

The entire line for UNC returns and will be a true test to defensive coordinator Jon Hoke’s new front line. The Tar Heel line includes four juniors and one senior. Senior offensive guard Landon Turner is a four-year starter and also a preseason All-American. Expect to see Turner’s name called in the first couple of rounds in the NFL draft if he remains healthy.

New Gamecock players, defensive tackle Dante Sawyer and defensive end Marquise Lewis, have promised since their signing to make an immediate impact on the defensive line. Both excelled at JUCO where Lewis was considered by some the top player and Sawyer is a former high school All-American.

Kansas transfer safety Isaiah Johnson also looks to make an immediate impact at the safety position which was a weakness a season ago.

Despite being terrible on that side of the ball, there were some playmakers in junior linebacker Skai Moore, junior linebacker Jonathan Walton, and redshirt senior nose tackle Gerald Dixon. Also expect a push from backup sophomores linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams and cornerback Chris Lammons, who will press for starting roles all season.

On offense there is a new man under center in redshirt sophomore Connor Mitch. Mitch is another from North Carolina that picked the Gamecocks over a local school. The Raleigh native will have six starters from last year to help ease the transition to the starting role.

Junior Pharoh Cooper, the Gamecocks’ top target who was already previously mentioned, caught 72 passes for 1190 yards and had 10 touchdowns last year. Cooper along with senior Jerell Adams are going to be key to the passing game. Keep an eye on Adams, there have been reports that he could miss Thursday’s opener with a hamstring injury.

Redshirt senior Brandon Wilds has the most experience over any player that will take the field in Charlotte. Wilds has been more than patient to get the opening season nod at running back. Wilds ran for 570 yards and four touchdowns in a backup role last year behind Mike Davis. Wilds will split carries with redshirt sophomore David Williams, who looks ready to tote the rock by himself if Wilds were to get injured.

The offensive line replaces two starters and is switching their most talented lineman Brandon Shell from right tackle to left tackle. At center, sophomore Alan Knott has looked older than his age in preseason and will have a couple redshirt seniors, Will Sport and Mike Matulis, next to him to help out.

Fortunately for South Carolina, the Tar Heel defense also gave up a ton of points last season and look to be suspect again this year. North Carolina did make a great hire in former Auburn coach Gene Chizik, which has led to a mystery in what to expect from that unit.

Senior defensive tackle Jessie Rogers made the most noise behind the line a season ago recording 5.5 sacks, 6.0 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. The guy with the most upside might be redshirt sophomore Nazair Jones. Jones had a team high 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. Including Rogers and Jones, there were five guys on the line that had five or more tackles for losses.

Beyond the line the two players that stood out were senior linebacker Jeff Schoettmer, who led the team with 59 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions, and junior cornerback Brian Walker who had three picks last season.

Unlike South Carolina a season ago, North Carolina had playmakers on their line. North Carolina suffered several injuries on that side of the ball and looked like one of the worst defenses too. With new coaches for both teams, we will see who can start to erase the mess that was made last season.

Many South Carolina fans underestimate this North Carolina team simply because they are in the ACC and the Gamecocks have won the previous two meetings. It almost seems that it would take either Florida State or Clemson to get the attention of Gamecock nation, due to conference alignment. Well, after last season Gamecock fans might want to take every game seriously and especially this game on Thursday.

North Carolina runs a fast paced offense, similar to one that degraded the Gamecocks in Game One of last season. The Tar Heels might not be the Aggies, but if you look at how A&M ended that season, they weren’t great.

The Tar Heels’ offense is one of the most experienced in the country and giving Williams another year to show off his arm and legs, with the receiving options, could be dangerous. Especially against a defense that is purely hype at the moment. Not to mention along with Georgia, this is going to be the most experienced line the Gamecocks face this season.

New quarterback Connor Mitch should have success against North Carolina, but again that is another question mark.

This game looks to be a shootout with the most improved defense being the difference.

Opening the season at a neutral location will draw an electric atmosphere as both teams will almost be equally represented.

Key Matchups

Has Spurrier found his quarterback? Will South Carolina’s defense be able to stop an explosive Fedora offense? Has Gene Chizik already changed the look of the Tar Heel’s defense? Are these two dark horse teams in 2015?

Those questioned will be answered Thursday evening, as the Carolina’s get to showcase their talent in a much anticipated border battle.

Prediction

South Carolina 34

North Carolina 27

Photo credit: wltx.com; No. 22 Brandon Wilds finds running room against Tennessee.