South Carolina-Ole Miss: Five Keys to a USC Victory

This may be the biggest game of the year for South Carolina. Ole Miss comes in at No. 4 in the country but has yet to play anyone with any true merit. 

Here comes USC, fresh off of two explosive offensive games (one a loss to Georgia and the other a win over Florida Atlantic). A mysterious team thus far this season, South Carolina has yet to prove it can do ANYTHING consistently. 

The immediate thought is that South Carolina has no chance to beat an Ole Miss team with a No. 1 draft pick at quarterback. However, South Carolina has the potential to upset a good team and prove that it can contend in the SEC this season.

Here are the five keys to a USC victory. 

1. Get healthy in time for kickoff.

This may seem like cheating because this really is not an in-game key. South Carolina has many players nursing injuries. Nathan Pepper may be ready to go for this game. If he is, that would be a huge boost to the defense, especially with Ladi Ajiboye finally coming off his three-game suspension. 

Ole Miss is coming into this game healthy. We need to do the same.

2. Make sure we do not give up gaudy averages on special teams this week.

In all three of South Carolina's games, the kickoff team has given up a ridiculous number of long returns. This has to stop this week. South Carolina is not good enough on defense this season to give teams short field position.

3. Continue the offensive output.

Recently, South Carolina has erupted into a fairly good offensive team. They have looked crisp on offense, especially with the timing routes. Stephen Garcia has the look of a great SEC QB. 

The running game looked better last week, but that may have been due to the poor play of Florida Atlantic's defense. Either way, South Carolina must maintain a well-balanced attack and continue to execute.

4. Try to regain defensive confidence. 

The team's defense (while plagued by injuries and suspensions) has lost a bit of the "South Carolina Swagger" that it has had the past few seasons. 

The team needs to play well against Ole Miss' offense early. Getting C.C. Whitlock, Ajiboye, and possibly Pepper will help a great deal.

5. Find some way to get Bryce Sherman the ball.

Whether it is on kick returns, punt returns, receiving, or running, we must make sure Bryce Sherman gets his hands on the ball. He would easily be the fastest player on the field and has carried four times for a gaudy eight yards per carry.

The coaches may have a reason for not getting him more time—I am sure of it, in fact—but the truth remains that he could be a great playmaker. It is time to see it. 

Conclusion

South Carolina is overmatched this week. Given the fact that the game is at home, Carolina should keep it close. However, I believe that Ole Miss will leave Columbia with the W and set South Carolina back to 2-2.

Prediction: Ole Miss 31, South Carolina 28.