South Carolina Gamecocks Football 2010: Ranking the Opponents

To help get you ready for the 2010 college football season, here is a look at the South Carolina Gamecocks upcoming opponents ranked from easiest to hardest.

On the last slide, we give you some scenarios as far as outcomes for the 2010 season.

The Gamecocks will make noise in the SEC East in 2010; how much is yet to be determined.

Spurrier and the fans have their eyes on Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.  Can it be done?  Read more to see who stands in their way and how easy those teams are going to be to reach the goal.

No. 12 - Furman

South Carolina's only I-AA opponent should be the easiest.  The Paladins finished 6-5 last season, a disappointing record for the former Southern Conference powerhouse.  This game shouldn't be close, but the last meeting in 1982 resulted in a Furman victory.

No. 11 - Troy

This game was scheduled as a tune-up before the season finale with Clemson.  As such, it was designed to be one of the easier games on the schedule.  Not so fast.  The Trojans are one of the best in the Sun Belt, but if the Gamecocks lose this one, they can kiss their season good-bye.

No. 10 - Southern Miss

Don't be fooled by the ranking of this game.  South Carolina will have to show up and play well against a motivated opponent to come away with a win. 

Still, the Gamecocks have a significant talent advantage across the board and should win easily due to a productive second half.

No. 9 - Vanderbilt

Ol' Vandy.  This game will be played in Nashville minus Bobby Johnson.

Speaking of games in which South Carolina holds a significant talent advantage over its opponent, the game against Vanderbilt falls into that category.  The last few years have shown that a talent edge isn't enough to win this game.  Even so, this is not one of South Carolina's harder games.  Just can not overlook them or think the 'Dores are not good enough because every year someone in the SEC gets bitten by Vandy.

No. 8 - Kentucky

The Gamecocks head to Lexington to take on the Wildcats of Kentucky. 

Based on past performance, this should be the easiest game on the schedule; South Carolina holds a 10-game winning streak in the series, but as we all know past performance does not guarantee future results. 

The Wildcats will have a dangerous offense and could easily upset the Gamecocks, but South Carolina should still be favored in this one.  For Carolina, it is about not looking past them.

No. 7 - Tennessee

The Lane Kiffin experiment is over, and the results are not good. Derek Dooley has inherited a program in serious need of rebuilding, and he probably won't be able to get the job completed by late October. The Gamecocks have every reason to believe they should win this game.

For Spurrier, beating UT is always a good feeling and one he should have in 2010.

No. 6 - Arkansas

Hogs and Chickens.  Classic SEC game.

South Carolina's permanent rival makes the trip east this season and brings with it Bobby Petrino's high powered offense.

The Gamecocks defense wasn't up to the task last year and will have to play significantly better if it wants to win this one.

This game and the next three could arguably be moved around in any order.

No. 5 - Georgia

South Carolina has historically had the benefit of playing well in this game; however, they usually still lose it. Georgia should be stacked on the line but will have lots of other changes to implement.

USC should benefit from the playing the Dawgs early in the season before they have much of a chance to perfect all of their offseason changes.

Much rides on the outcome of this game for both teams.  Winner likely to contend with Florida for SEC East.

No. 4 - Auburn

Auburn had a surprisingly good season last year and is looking to build on that this year. I am not so sure that they will be able to achieve on the same level that they did last year, but this game will be the first road game of USC. Auburn will be coming off of a high-profile game against Clemson and may be primed for a letdown game.

If USC can find a way to win this SEC game on the road, then a magical season is surely in store for Spurrier.

No. 3 - Clemson

The Gamecocks will travel north for this game.

This is always one of the toughest games of the season, and it usually has more to do with our difficulties than Clemson's talent.  This year will be no different.  South Carolina will have to play well to beat the Tigers on the road for the first back to back wins in a long time.

USC needs to finish this season strong and no better way than beating you in-state rival. 

Is Kyle Parker in the photo predicting the outcome?  Two straight wins for USC?  Could it be?

No. 2 - Alabama

This is probably the best team on South Carolina's schedule but not necessarily the hardest game. 

The two factors in South Carolina's favor are that it's a home game and the off week USC has the week before.  Those advantages will have to go a long way to pull the upset over the Crimson Tide.

Can it be done?  USC will need a lot of help.

Saban vs Spurrier again will be a great game to watch.

No. 1 - Florida

It's really a tossup between Alabama at home and Florida on the road. Since it might have SEC East championship implications, the UF game gets the nod. The Gators will be reloading again and should be as good as they'll be all year when the Gamecocks come to town.

Playing the Gators in the "Swamp."  Just sounds tough.

This game, if all goes as planned, could determine the SEC East divisional champion for 2010. Will this year be the year for USC?

In Closing...

So there you have it.  An early preseason ranking of the opponents for the 2010 Gamecocks.

Out of those, let's sum this up by predicting the outcomes...

The Gamecocks will WIN vs. Southern Mississippi, Furman, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee and Troy. Clear Loss vs. Alabama (yet close). Likely win at home vs Georgia and at Clemson. Toss ups but must win at least one –home vs Arkansas; at Auburn. Toss up at Florida.

So my worst case scenario for USC in 2010 is 7-5 with losses to Bama, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, and Auburn.

Best case scenario is 10-2 with losses to Alabama and Arkansas. SEC CHAMPS.

Most likely either 8-4 or 9-3. Losses coming from this batch with one possible surprise win in there—Bama, Florida, Arkansas and Auburn. I think that win could be Auburn.

Bottom line: these are not your usual Gamecocks as they will make some noise in a vulnerable SEC East in 2010. How much depends on the Georgia and Auburn games to set the tone for what could be a magical year.