While Wofford loses its top rusher from last year, there is a precedent of plugging pieces into the offense, as the team has had to replace its top rusher four of the last five seasons.

Likewise, even though Wofford will have to break in a new quarterback in 2008, they won’t exactly be going with a bright-eyed freshman, as senior Ben Widmyer, who actually started against NC State last season, will have the inside track to win the job in the fall.  He’ll be pushed by a talented group of young players, including Navy transfer and option protégé Robby Davis.

Even with the losses to graduation, this remains a potent and well-coached offense, and because of the uniqueness of its scheme and ability to “plug and chug,” it has the potential to give South Carolina problems.

I admit this pick may be going out on a limb (especially when you consider Wofford’s last win against the Gamecocks came in 1917), but I swear that until South Carolina and Spurrier can establish some constancy at the quarterback position, this team is going to be schizophrenic.

Yes, South Carolina is an SEC program which returns 17 starters, and yes, they managed wins against Kentucky and Georgia last season—but the reality of the situation is that they’ve been slow starters under Spurrier, and their run defense has been mediocre.

Spurrier and his team barely survived a Wofford upset bid in 2006 where Wofford came within a 4th-and-5 conversion of tying the game at 27.  Instead the Terriers fell 27-20, but they proved they could compete with South Carolina.

This year Wofford gets two weeks to prepare for this game, and because of their unique offense and the fact that South Carolina will be coming off a tough home game against Georgia, I give the Terriers and their 1,350 student enrollment a fighting chance against Spurrier’s Gamecocks, making this my ninth-most likely upset of 2008.

No. 8: Delaware at Maryland (Aug. 30)

Maryland is one of those teams that is tough to get a read on.  Ralph Friedgen did an absolutely amazing job here between 2001-2003 as he led the Terps to three consecutive 10-win seasons, including an ACC championship in 2001 and two impressive bowl wins in 2002 and 2003.

Yet they’ve been streaky the past four seasons, finishing 5-6 in 2004 and 2005, 9-4 in 2006, and 6-7 last season.  Much of this has been due to offensive inconsistency and mediocre quarterback play, which seems ironic considering both the legacy of Maryland quarterbacks of the past and the offensive background of Friedgen (hmm, remind you of another Maryland football team?).

The starter on opening day is anyone’s guess, as three quarterbacks once again will take the battle into camp to see who will lead the Terps for at least the start of 2008.

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