Auburn and SC Showdown

By DARRELL L. BREESE

The Ol' Ball Coach brings the No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks to the home of the No. 17 War Eagles Saturday for what is the first significant Southeastern Conference showdown of the season.

The two teams have met just four times since South Carolina joined the SEC prior to the 1992 season, with Auburn winning all four games. However, this will be the first game between the two teams in which both teams are nationally ranked.

This game is a contest between the “immovable object” in the South Carolina run defense and the “unstoppable force” in Auburn’s ground game. The gamecock’s have the SEC’s top-ranked rushing defense, allowing just 59.7 yards per game. On the other side of the ball, Auburn enters the game with the league’s top rushing offense, averaging 259.3 yards per game on the ground.

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, fresh from last week’s dramatic 27-24 overtime victory against Clemson, said his team has to improve in a lot of areas to be able to beat the Gamecocks in a battle of unbeaten teams.

Last week Chizik’s team fell behind 17-0 before closing the gap in the third quarter. Strong-arm quarterback Cameron Newton completed 5-of-6 passes for 173 yards in the quarter, with Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachery as his primary targets.

Auburn will need another big game in the air if they hope to overcome the Gamecocks. And they have the weapons to deliver. Not only are Newton, Adams and Zachery a threat, the South Carolina defense can’t ignore the Tiger’s three headed monster running the ball. Newton is fifth in the conference rushing ranks and teammates Onterio McCalebb and Michael Dyer are also among the top-10 conference ball carriers.

South Carolina also presents a challenge for Auburn’s defense. In three games, true freshman tailback Marcus Lattimore has rushed for 333 yards and five touchdowns this season. He also recorded 182 yards vs. Georgia earlier this season.

Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia has completed 41-of-60 passes (68.3%) for 508 yards through three games. He is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 25 carries for 68 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

This game is either going to resemble a track meet or be a defensive struggle. It will be decided by the kicking game and the edge goes to Auburn senior Wes Byrum, who is on pace to become Auburn’s all-time leading scorer.

“Nova,” war Eagle VII, will fly across the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium to start the game and the Tigers will continue to soar. Auburn -3 is a good bet this weekend.

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