Andrew Spivey, Gentry Hawk and Nick Marcinko preview Florida’s Week 6 matchup against South Carolina in our roundtable discussion, where we discuss the keys to the game and give our score predictions.
Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET inside The Swamp.
What are the keys to victory for Florida’s offense vs. South Carolina?
AS: Get back to running the football and allowing Philo time to throw in the pocket.
GH: You must be able to run the football and not let South Carolina’s front seven be the more physical group on Saturday. The Gators severely struggled to run the football against a Missouri team that came into the matchup only allowing 87.3 rushing yards per game. Similar to Missouri, the Gamecocks have a solid run defense, currently allowing 100.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 6th in the SEC.
NM: Get Jadan Baugh going again. Florida averaged 260 rushing yards through its first four games before managing just 42 against Missouri, with Baugh logging just 13 yards. South Carolina is allowing just 100.4 rushing yards per game, so it won’t necessarily be easy, but Florida needs to establish enough of a run threat to prevent the Gamecocks from teeing off on Aaron Philo.
Florida needs to stay ahead of the chains and avoid self-inflicted mistakes.
What are the keys to victory for Florida’s defense vs. South Carolina?
AS: You can not let Lanoris Sellers beat you with his legs but you also have to stop the running game in general or else this could be a long day for the defense.
GH: Stop the run and don’t let anything past you in the secondary. South Carolina currently has the No. 7 rushing offense in the country, which is a huge advantage for the Gamecocks in a game that will likely have adverse weather conditions. If the Gators’ front seven can’t turn up the physicality, the Gamecocks will take advantage and eventually find ways to attack Florida’s secondary.
NM: Stop South Carolina’s ground game. Florida has to be able to stop South Carolina’s rushing attack, especially with rain expected throughout the game. The Gamecocks are averaging 256 rushing yards per game, which ranks seventh in college football. A large part of their success comes from quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who has 391 rushing yards through five games. At 6-foot-3, 238 pounds, Sellers is tough to bring down in open space and has the speed to outrun the secondary. Florida will have to key in on the read game, designed quarterback runs and scramble drills while swarming to the football at a higher level.
One player you would like to receive more playing time in Week 6?
AS: Dijon Johnson. Florida needs help in the secondary and Johnson is at least a change back there.
GH: I want to see Jaden Robinson receive more snaps in Week 6. Robinson was the brighter spot in Florida’s linebacker room against Missouri, recording 6 total tackles on 41 snaps.
NM: Defensive tackle Joseph Mbatchou. He’s coming off one of the better games of his career against Missouri, but he’s logged just 65 snaps this season, the fifth most among Florida’s interior linemen. I think he needs to be more involved in the rotation.
What is the biggest matchup that will determine Florida-South Carolina?
AS: How Florida runs the ball against South Carolina.
GH: The biggest matchup that will determine this game will be Florida’s front seven vs. South Carolina’s offensive line. If you can force the Gamecocks into obvious passing situations while stopping the run, you have a good shot. Contain LaNorris Sellers and be the more physical team this weekend.
NM: With weather expected to be a factor, whoever wins at the line of scrimmage will likely win. Florida needs to find more success in the running game.
Where does this team need to improve after five games?
AS: In the secondary but also in getting a pass rush.
GH: Florida’s secondary is the obvious answer here, but the Gators have some other issues as well. This offense has shown to not have much success through the air when the running game is nonexistent, which starts with Florida’s offensive line. If that group can become more physical and play with more fire, a lot of those problems for Florida’s offense should slowly start to disappear. I also want to see this team limit the penalties this weekend, as that has also been a struggle for the Gators.
NM: The secondary has the most room for improvement, but I’m not sure it will be tested enough this week to give us a better sense of whether it has made progress. Florida also needs more pressure from its interior defensive line.
Score prediction?
AS: Florida 47, South Carolina 24
GH: Florida 38, South Carolina 24. I think this will be a big bounce back game for Florida’s offense.
NM: Florida 31, South Carolina 21