South Carolina Football: Ranking the 2012 Schedule from Easiest to Toughest

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The South Carolina Gamecocks had arguably its most successful season in school history last year, finishing with an 11-2 record and bowl victory for the first time since 2006. This season, the Gamecocks look to build on that success, as they return 13 starters, including seven on the offensive side of the ball.

With a healthy Marcus Lattimore in the backfield, this team has the goods to reach the SEC Championship game. The problem is that nothing comes easy in this conference, and this team will have to earn every victory if it is going to accomplish its goals in 2012.

With the college football season right around the corner, here are the easiest and most challenging opponents for the South Carolina Gamecocks on the 2012 schedule. 

12. Vs. Wofford

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Last year's record: 8-4

Returning starters: N/A

If South Carolina hopes to win the SEC this season, teams such as Wofford should not be a problem.

We are talking about a team in the Southern Conference that plays other teams like Citadel and Elon. Who? Exactly my point.

11. Vs. UAB

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Last year's record: 3-9

Returning starters: 10

UAB has not reached a bowl game since 2004 and was ranked in the 100s in scoring offense and scoring defense a season ago.

This is another easy victory for the Gamecocks as they prepare for the brutal SEC schedule that lies ahead.

10. Vs. East Carolina

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Last year's record: 5-7

Returning starters: 14

East Carolina may be a better team than the previous opponents, but that is not saying much. The Pirates defense is absolutely terrible, allowing over 30 points per contest on average. In last year's meeting, South Carolina rushed for 220 yards and dropped 56 points in a lopsided victory.

Gamecock fans should expect much of the same in 2012.

9. At Kentucky

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Last year's record: 5-7

Returning starters: 12

South Carolina has won 11 of the last 12 meetings against the Wildcats, including a 54-3 victory last season. Kentucky does return six starters on both sides of the ball, but I highly doubt that the team will improve its play that much to compete in this contest.

8. At Vanderbilt

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Last year's record: 6-7

Returning starters: 16

Vanderbilt is making progress under head coach James Franklin, but to assume this team is on a level to compete with South Carolina just yet would be foolish.

The Commodores offense struggled mightily in last year's meeting, only producing 77 total yards. With the Gamecocks returning majority of their defensive starters, they will once against be a tough game for this Vanderbilt club.

7. Vs. Tennessee

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Last year's record: 5-7

Returning starters: 18

South Carolina has experienced recent success against Tennessee (a team that used to own the Gamecocks just a few years ago), but this Volunteer team will likely turn some heads in 2012.

Tennessee returns the most starters in the conference and gets a few key players back from injury as well.

South Carolina will have the home-field advantage, but this is a game that could possibly result in an upset if the Gamecocks are not careful.

6. Vs. Missouri

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Last year's record: 8-5

Returning starters: 11

The first SEC road game for the Missouri Tigers will take place in Williams-Brice Stadium—not exactly the warmest welcome into their first season in the conference.

While it appears that the Gamecocks will be the heavy favorites in this game, the Tigers are capable of putting up points, with quarterback James Franklin leading the offense and playmakers around him. Missouri scored 30 or more points a total of seven times last season.

5. At Florida

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Last year's record: 7-6

Returning starters: 17

This should be a defensive battle, as the Gators return 10 starters from a defense that finished ranked eighth in the entire country last season. The offense could surely use some work, but Florida is a team that South Carolina has not had much success against. In the last 21 meetings, the Gamecocks have only managed to win three of those matchups.

With this contest taking place in Gainesville, it should be a tough matchup for both teams.

4. Vs. Arkansas

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Last year's record: 11-2

Returning starters: 13

South Carolina has a terrific defense, but it couldn't quite figure out this Arkansas offense last season, as the Razorbacks scored 44 points in a victory. The bad news is that Arkansas returns seven starters on that side of the ball and will get a healthy Knile Davis back in the backfield.

The Razorbacks have won eight of the last 11 meetings. And with an offense that averaged nearly 37 points per game, South Carolina will have its work cut out for them.

3. At Clemson

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Last year's record: 10-4

Returning starters: 13

Speaking of a high-scoring offense, Clemson returns six starters from a unit that averaged 34 points per game—though the Gamecocks did a great job of slowing that attack down last season.

The Tigers are a young team that should be more consistent with another year under their belt.

This matchup will take place in Memorial Stadium, where South Carolina is just 2-5 in the last seven meetings.

2. Vs. Georgia

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Last year's record: 10-4

Returning starters: 15

Last year's meeting was an exciting one, with South Carolina winning 45-42. It was the third victory over Georgia in the last five meetings.

Despite the recent success, the Bulldogs are a great team on both sides of the ball and have nine starters returning from a defense that finished fifth in the country.

This is a fantastic matchup on paper, and the winner could very well be the team that wins the SEC East.

1. At LSU

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Last year's record: 13-1

Returning starters: 12

LSU is 16-2-1 all-time against South Carolina and will head into this matchup once again as the favorites. First of all, the game takes place in Baton Rouge—a place that is nearly impossible for any team to earn a victory. The Tigers may also be even more talented this season than they were last year.

The defense will remain relentless, the offense still has its unstoppable ground game and Zach Mettenberger seems to be the quarterback that this team has lacked for several years.