South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Ole Miss Rebels Preview and Prediction
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Treading the usual waters of the SEC are tough enough but add two additional conference games into the mix makes the request brutal. On Saturday, South Carolina heads to Oxford taking on Ole Miss in a must-win game for both teams hoping to salvage the remains of their season. Each squad started the 2020 schedule off on a high note but both have been losing traction since due to an unforgiving schedule.
The Gamecocks (2-4) opened the season with losses to ranked Tennessee and Florida squads but quickly moved back to even claiming victories over Vanderbilt and then- No. 15 Auburn. The wave of top programs has not ceased taking blowout losses to LSU and No. 7 A&M. After surrendering 48 points at home to the Aggies, the Gamecocks must face another high-scoring offense with a banged-up defense.
Regardless of the showdown, the Rebels (2-4) are going to put points on the board. A few twists and turns here and there with still developing sophomore quarterback Matt Corral, Mississippi is moving the ball up and down the field at a pace of 541 yards a game. Trouble is, the defense is essentially allowing the opposition to do the same (535.5). If the defense can create a few stops against USC, Ole Miss can pull out of the SEC West cellar with Mississippi State and LSU dormant.
South Carolina vs. Ole Miss
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Spread: Ole Miss -11.5
When South Carolina Has the Ball
If there hasn’t been heat in the Gamecocks’ meeting rooms between head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, after 150 yards of total offense against A&M best bet there was on Sunday. Bobo has stuck with Colorado State grad-transfer quarterback Collin Hill down a five-game production slide masked with wins against Vandy and Auburn. Hill had a game best to be forgotten completing 8-of-21 for 66 yards with two interceptions against the Aggies. The hook was pulled too late for sophomore Ryan Hilinski to make much of a difference hitting 4-of-6 for 34 yards. Hilinski did manage to avoid throwing a pick or taking a sack.
With nothing working offensively, one of the SEC’s best tailbacks was kept under wraps last week. Kevin Hart rushed 13 times producing 39 of the team’s 50 net yards. Receiver Shi Smith stayed on the path of potential postseason All-SEC honors hauling in seven for 64 yards.
What fixes an ailing offense from the outside in, going against a bad defense. For years Ole Miss has been one of the conference’s worst at stopping opposing offenses and the 2020 season has been no different. Teams are posting 40.7 a game on the Rebels putting extra heat on the offense to produce. Hart stands to have a good game if the line shows up seeing Mississippi’s run defense allow 231 yards per contest.
When Ole Miss Has the Ball
Under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss offense has become one of college football’s best ranked fifth in the FBS division. Receiver Elijah Moore is statistically the best in the SEC with 61 receptions for 829 yards. Another tops in the conference is tight end Kenny Yeboah. At 6-4, 240, the senior is a mismatch for linebackers and safeties. Yeboah does not get many touches but when he does, he turns them into explosive plays averaging 21 yards per reception with six touchdowns scored.
Coming out of nowhere, Matt Corral is pushing Alabama’s Mac Jones and Kyle Trask atop the leader board in every major passing category. His six-pick game against Arkansas aside, he has been extremely accurate completing passes at a 71.7 rate amassing 1,846 yards with 18 touchdowns. If bottled up, Corral will take a sack but if there is a crease in the pocket, he can make teams pay with his dual-threat abilities.
What was one of the nation’s best run defenses clamping down on teams for 96 yards an outing in the first three has become 249.6 over the last three showdowns. USC’s pass defense, given the competition, has been adequate at 250.8 yards per. To make matters worse defensive linemen Zacch Pickens and Aaron Sterling along with defensive backs Shilo Sanders and RJ Roderick questionable this week due to various injuries.
Final Analysis
Facing the Ole Miss offense is not for the faint of heart or the weakened… and South Carolina looks like both riding into town on a two-game slide. Hill has not shown the ability to go pass for pass with the elite quarterbacks in the SEC. If Hill is slow moving the offense yet again, will Muschamp force the issue sooner than later putting Hilinski in for a fair chance at competing with the Rebels? Before Bobo came to town, Hilinski was the future of USC’s offense.
Prediction: Ole Miss 45, South Carolina 24
Photo credit: AL.com; No. 2 Matt Corral