South Carolina and Missouri Football: "The Battle of the Columbias"

The South Carolina Gamecocks and the Missouri Tigers face off in the first annual showdown that both schools have agreed to be dubbed, “The Battle of the Columbias”.

A fitting name, if not overly creative.

The University of Missouri is located in Columbia, Missouri.

The similarities don’t stop there.

Missouri quarterback, James Franklin, plays the position much like South Carolina starter Connor Shaw.

Both offenses rely on their quarterbacks to be productive with their arm and their legs.

And both quarterbacks have been dealing with shoulder injuries.

Franklin was forced to miss last week’s match-up against Arizona State due to a nagging shoulder injury that he sustained before the season began. 

Despite leaving last week’s game against University of Alabama-Birmingham early with a reoccurring shoulder injury, coach Steve Spurrier has said this week that Shaw will be starting on Saturday. 

If Shaw is unable to continue once the game kicks off, however, Gamecock fans can feel confident in Sophomore Dylan Thompson to back him up.

Thompson has thrown for over 500 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions while periodically subbing in for Shaw.

This will be Missouri’s first road contest of the season and South Carolina’s third straight home game.

Look for the Gamecocks to put a lot of pressure on Missouri’s 21st ranked rush defense behind the legs of Marcus Lattimore and Connor Shaw.

If James Franklin is limited at all, it could be a long day for the Tigers, who have to cope with a Gamecocks defense which has allowed the 7th fewest points scored against them in the entire NCAA.

The last time these two teams met was in the 2005 Independence Bowl where Missouri prevailed 38-31.