2018 Schedule
2018 Record: 7-6 (4-4)
4th in the East
A young South Carolina Gamecock team fielded a 7-5 team from a season ago. Will Muschamp’s third season in Columbia saw the team reach as high as No.24 in the polls but ultimately finish with a disappointing showing in the Belk Bowl as they were shutout by Virginia.
Some close wins along with some close losses provided a very up and down season for the Gamecocks that really didn’t have many shining moments. A fifth straight loss to in-state rival Clemson continued a trend of Tiger dominance dating back to 2014.
2019 Schedule
Ceiling: 8-4 (5-3)
Floor: 3-9 (1-7)
2019 Projected Record: 7-5 (4-4)
Conference Standings: 4th in the East
*denotes neutral site game
This team has a relatively low ceiling with a very low floor. Getting to 8-4 would be very difficult and require no hiccups against teams they should beat as well as excelling against likely Missouri or Texas A&M.
Games against Florida and Tennessee in back to back weeks will be a tall task but one the Gamecocks should be able to achieve.
This is a team that returns seven each on both sides of the ball as well as Jake Bentley at quarterback. Muschamp’s young team begins to enter the years of higher expectations. Unfortunately a tough ending to the season against Texas A&M and Clemson may have the fans expectations falling short after what should be a dominant start to the season.
Edwards is the next in a long line of great Carolina receivers including Kevin McKinley, Alshon Jeffery and Sidney Rice. (Photo courtesy of gamecocksonline.com).
In order for this team to have a strong season, senior quarterback Jake Bentley needs to have his greatest season yet. The Alabama native showed big improvements in his junior season. He threw for over 3,000 yards for the first time in his career as well as a respectable 27 touchdowns to 14 interceptions.
Senior Bryan Edwards has put together three solid seasons in Columbia and will be the top target. He chose to forgo the draft and return for his final season. He enters the season sixth in school history in yards as well as seven touchdowns and 44 receptions shy of setting the all-time record.
Ernest Jones and T.J. Brunson will anchor a linebacking unit that poses the biggest questions heading into 2019. Brunson returns as the teams leading tackler with over 30 more tackles than the next highest.
T.J. Brunson will be one of the biggest factors returning for the Gamecocks on the defensive side of the ball. (Photo courtesy of thestate.com).
The secondary will be exciting to watch this fall for Gamecock fans. Sophomore Jaycee Horn won the Gamecock’s Rex Enright Defensive Player of the Spring. He’s coming off a solid freshman year a season ago.
Incoming freshman Jammie Robinson has had a lot of buzz surrounding him and has been turning heads in Fall practice. He will likely be another young face getting a start in the season opener against UNC.
South Carolina faces a tough schedule this year there’s no doubt about that. Getting Texas A&M and Alabama as their West opponents is definitely not ideal. Add Clemson to the schedule at the end of the year and it can be downright daunting.
As long as they can win the close games, the Gamecocks can finish strong with a good bowl appearance that may elevate them to an eight win season.
You can ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Kyle!
“From Our Haus to Yours”
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
