South Carolina vs. Mississippi State: Will Marcus Lattimore Save Gamecocks?

Mississippi State is giving South Carolina everything they can handle at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi.

The game is tied at seven apiece going into the fourth quarter.

It hasn’t been the prettiest of games in the SEC. Three combined turnovers, two of them by South Carolina, have put a damper on the game.

Marcus Lattimore hasn’t been able to get going, as he has rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown. He has done it all season long, posting 779 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. He is going to have to break through in the fourth quarter to avoid an upset.

What’s Gone Wrong?

Quarterback Connor Shaw has thrown two interceptions against the Bulldogs' defense. He is out to prove that he should have been the starter from the start of the season instead of Stephen Garcia.

Lattimore hasn’t been able to help Shaw out. Rushing for 38 yards on 15 attempts won’t get the job done.

Mississippi State is playing exactly how they want to play–tough, grind-you-out style of football. They want to keep the game low-scoring, and so far, they have done just that.

What’s At Stake?

South Carolina was thought of as the preseason favorite to win the SEC Conference. They haven’t looked like the best team in the SEC in 2011, though. They struggled against East Carolina, Georgia and Navy in their first six games of the season.

If they drop another SEC game, South Carolina may put them in a first-place tie in the SEC East with Georgia.

Luckily for South Carolina, they have already defeated Georgia and there seems to be no other team ready to take the next step.

Mississippi State would finally get a quality win in 2011. They would be able use this game for momentum for the rest of the season.

Upset Potential (10/10)

South Carolina isn’t as good as last year, especially defensively. This upset could very easily happen, so it is without a doubt a 10 on the scale.

How Will Voters React?

Losing at Mississippi State would be devastating for the Gamecocks. The Bulldogs have yet to defeat a quality opponent this season. Their best victory came against Louisiana Tech.

The combined record for the opponents the Bulldogs have defeated is 3-13.

South Carolina will fall drastically in the BCS Rankings come Sunday if they lose to Mississippi State.

Will South Carolina Come Back?

Yes, South Carolina will get Lattimore going in the rushing game. He is one of the best running backs in college football. Even though the defense of the Bulldogs is focused on stopping the run, Lattimore has what it takes to break a big one at any given time.

Who Benefits Most From South Carolina’s Possible Loss?

Georgia and Florida will be ecstatic to see a Gamecocks loss to the Bulldogs. At 4-2, Georgia and Florida have the best chance to catch the Gamecocks in the SEC East. Florida still has South Carolina at home on November 12.