SEC PRIMER (Week 9): South Carolina enters the coaching sweepstakes
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
Christmas can’t get here soon enough.
And when it does, we might still be trying to finish the regular season of college football.
It could be said the holidays came early for Will Muschamp. OK, bad joke but his career at South Carolina came to an abrupt but expected end last weekend after his team wallowed around (again) to a 2-5 record.
He will not be the last. Despite all the financial woes college athletic programs are enduring – and it might get worse before it gets better – college football on SEC campuses makes the most money. They can’t do that very well if the team continues to lose. This year is an exception since few fans are attending games.
Funny, SC is a program that has endured a lot of bad seasons but still has good attendance.
Prior to Muschamp, the Gamecocks had enjoyed their finest years in football. They went to their first and only SEC Championship game in 2010 under Steve Spurrier. They improved their bowl attendance, which was almost nil prior to the arrival of Lou Holtz in 1999.
Between Holtz and Spurrier, the program won 119 games in a 17-year span. That’s easily the best mark in school history.
To compare, Rex Enright had the longest tenure (16 years) and won a total of 64 games (1938-55 with no teams playing between ’43-45).
Since joining the SEC in 1992, South Carolina has won 81 games with a winning percentage of .440. Muschamp won 28 games in four-plus years with a winning percentage of .483.
Sounds similar? Some programs have a lot to live up to no matter who the coach is.
With Clemson ruling the roost (no pun intended) it will be much harder to overcome those stats. That might make it harder to find the coach athletic director Ray Tanner wants.
Hugh Freeze is considered the favorite by Gamecock fans. He’s not a favorite in the SEC office after his behavior at Ole Miss both on and off the field. So, we’ll see.
There are other credible options but the winner of the sweepstakes will need time to bring the program around. That may take a few years and under the circumstances, patience will be thin.
So, good luck South Carolina, you’ll need it.
SEC VOICE
Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina State Radio Network gives details of Will Muschamp’s firing and who might be next in line for the Gamecocks’ job.
NOV 21 Schedule/Notes
GAME POSTPONED
Ole Miss (3-4) at Texas A&M (5-1) – Reschedule TBD
Florida (5-1) at Vanderbilt (0-6)
11 a.m. CST (ESPN)
Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville
Series: FL, 41-10-2 (Last: 2019 – @FLA, 56-10)
Last Week: Kentucky def. Vandy, 38-35; Florida def. Arkansas, 63-35
5 Things to know about FLA/VANDY
Florida is coming off its first 60-plus point game since 2008 (Kentucky).
Kyle Trask became the seventh QB in SEC history to have multiple 6-touchdown passes in a game. That includes two former Gators – Danny Wuerffel and Terry Dean. Trask is also the only QB in FBS to throw four TD passes in four different games this season.
UF’s defense leads the SEC with 3.17 sacks per game.
VU’s Keyon Henry-Brooks is fourth in all-purpose yards in the SEC (147.2 ypg).
The two defenses have five interceptions between them (FLA-4/VU-1)
RRS PREDICTION: Florida 51, Vanderbilt 14 (FLA favored by 32)
LSU (2-3) at Arkansas (3-4)
11 a.m. CST (SEC Network)
Reynolds Razorback Stadium – Fayetteville
Series: LSU, 41-22-2 (Last: 2019 - @LSU, 56-20)
Last Week: Arkansas, 63-35; LSU did not play (postponed)
5 Things about ARK/LSU
Last season, LSU entered the game against Arkansas as a 42-point favorite. This year, some bookmakers have Arkansas as a 2.5-point favorite.
Despite a 2-3 record, LSU is fourth in scoring in the conference (35.8 ppg) and fourth in total offense (458 ypg).
In the loss to Florida, Arkansas scored two TDs of 80-plus yards in a game for the first time since 1997.
Arkansas gained more than 400 yards in three straight games including a season-best 461 at Texas A&M.
LSU is third in the SEC in red zone defense allowing points in 14 of 19 tries (11 TDs). Arkansas is second (22 of 31 – 20 TDs)
RRS PREDICTION: Arkansas 30, LSU 28 (ARK favored by 2.5)
Kentucky (3-4) at Alabama (6-0)
3 p.m. CST (SEC Network)
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa
Series: UA, 37-2-1 (Last: 2016 - @UA, 34-6)
Last Week: Kentucky def. Vanderbilt, 38-35; Alabama did not play (postponed)
5 Things about KY/ALA
This will be the third-straight time Kentucky has met Alabama as the top-ranked team, 2013 and 2016 the others.
After allowing Ole Miss four rushing touchdowns in the third game, Alabama has allowed just one rushing TD in the last three games (Georgia) and just four TDs overall.
Despite not playing the last two weeks, Najee Harris still leads the SEC in scoring with 14 touchdowns.
Mac Jones broke Tua Tagovailoa’s 6-game mark of 2,011 passing yards with 2,196 yards while his 16 TDs are the third most through 6 games.
Kentucky and Alabama are Nos. 2 and 3 in the league respectively in defensive scoring with the Wildcats giving up an average of 21.3 points per game while Bama gives up 22 per game.
RRS PREDICTION: Alabama 42, Kentucky 14 (BAMA favored by 30)
Tennessee (2-4) at Auburn (4-2)
6 p.m. CST (ESPN)
Jordan-Hare Stadium – Auburn
Series: AU, 28-22-3 (Last: 2018 - UT, 30-24)
Last Week: Auburn and Tennessee did not play (both postponed)
5 Things about UT/AU
Saturday’s game will be No. 100 for Gus Malzahn at Auburn.
Tennessee has scored just 14 points in the fourth quarter this season.
Auburn is the lone team to rush for 200 yards in four consecutive games this season.
Phillip Fulmer is the only Tennessee coach to win his first two games against Auburn. Jeremy Pruitt can become the second on Saturday.
This is the latest in the regular season the two teams have met. They did play against one another in the 2004 SEC Championship game.
RRS PREDICTION: Auburn 27, Tennessee 21 (AUB favored by 11)
Mississippi State (2-4) at Georgia (4-2)
6:30 p.m. CST (SEC Network)
Sanford Stadium – Athens
Series: UGA, 18-6 (Last: 2017 - @UGA, 31-3)
Last Week: Miss St and Georgia did not play (both postponed)
5 Things about MISS ST/UGA
The last time Georgia had two weeks between regular season games, it actually went three weeks in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.
Both Georgia and Missouri have played four games against teams in the AP Top 25. South Carolina and Arkansas also have played four ranked teams.
Miss State’s last win in Athens was in 1956 and last win over Georgia was 2010.
In the loss to Florida, Georgia managed just nine completions for 112 yards. Of their 165 yards rushing, 75 came on the first play from scrimmage.
Miss St has been stingy after turnovers, allowing just 199 yards on 12 possessions, forcing 7 punts. The Bulldogs have recovered six fumbles this season, which leads the SEC.
RRS PREDICTION: Georgia 31, Miss St 3 (UGA favored by 25)
Missouri (2-3) at South Carolina (2-5)
6:30 p.m. CST (SEC Network Alternate)
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
Series: Tied, 5-5 (Last 2019 - @Mizzu, 34-14)
Last Week: Ole Miss def. South Carolina, 59-42; Missouri did not play
5 Things about SC/MIZZOU
Mike Bobo becomes the new coach at South Carolina, replacing Will Muschamp. Bobo was the head coach at Colorado State for five years before becoming the SC offensive coordinator last December.
Larry Roundtree needs 19 yards to become the all-time leading rusher among non-quarterbacks in Missouri history. QB Brad Smith leads the school with 4,289 yards (2002-05).
Kevin Harris’ 88-yard run against Vanderbilt was the fourth-longest run in SC history.
After the announcement of Muschamp, the Gamecocks lost three players to the transfer portal - cornerback Israel Mukuamu. safety RJ Roderick and defensive tackle Makius Scott – all announced they were leaving the program.
Missouri has allowed seven of possible eight conversions on fourth down, which is last in the conference. The Tigers are also last in number of interceptions with just one.
RRS PREDICTION: Missouri 30, South Carolina 24 (Mizzou favored by 6.5)