South Carolina-Auburn Preview

Click For Video

The No. 19 South Carolina Gamecocks (9-3, 5-3) travel to the Georgia Dome to clash with the top-ranked Auburn Tigers (12-0, 8-0) to decide the SEC Champion Saturday afternoon.

The Gamecocks are coming off of a 29-7 win over in-state rival Clemson and have looked very solid in their past three contests, posting a 36-14 win at Florida to claim the SEC East Title and a 69-24 rout of Troy at home.  A surprising theme in the Clemson win is that Freshman RB Marcus Lattimore was limited to 48 yards on 23 carries and was unable to reach the end zone.  QB Stephen Garcia seemed to make up for Lattimore's inability to provide yards, throwing for 227 yards and two touchdowns.  WR Alshon Jeffery led all South Carolina receivers with five catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.

The Gamecock defense was stout for the third straight contest, allowing only one touchdown early in the first quarter to Kyle Parker and the Clemson offense.  South Carolina's defense was able to hold Parker to only 117 yards on seven completions and also forced an interception that went back for a touchdown.  Parker gave way to backup Tajh Boyd in the third quarter, who was unable to provide a spark for Clemson's lowly offense.

Auburn is coming off of a remarkable come from behind win at Alabama in which they trailed 24-0.  Cam Newton was shut down for the majority of the first half as Auburn felt their dreams of a national championship start to slip away.  The second half was a different story for the Tigers. Cam Newton finished the game 13 of 20 for 216 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Tigers back to win the game 28-27 in stunning fashion. 

Auburn's pass defense was a problem, however, allowing QB Greg McElroy to throw for a career high 377 yards while WR Julio Jones had 10 catches for 199 yards and a score.  They were able to stifle the Ingram-Richardson combo, allowing only 70 yards between the two of them.

For the Gamecocks to win, Cam Newton must be contained.  He has rushed for over 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns this year and has added over 2,200 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air.  Cam Newton is the key to Auburn's game plan.  If he can be forced into throwing the ball, as Alabama was able to do in the first half of last week's game, Auburn's offense struggles to get started.  He often throws bad passes and is not  as effective when he has to throw.

The Gamecock offense needs to focus on DT Nick Fairley.  He causes problems in protection schemes and is able to blow up plays in the backfield if he is not properly contained. It is nearly impossible to stop Fairley one on one, so the Gamecocks will need to double team him as much as possible to limit his impact on defense.  In their last meeting with Auburn, the Gamecocks were limited to only 79 yards on the ground, they need to get the running game going, especially with Marcus Lattimore, in order to be successful offensively.

Key match-up:

Cam Newton vs. the South Carolina defense

There is no secret to Auburn's offensive success. Auburn's offensive attack is lead by Heisman-candidate Cam Newton. In order for him to be effective, he uses his legs often more than his arm.  If the Gamecocks can contain him on the many play-action looks and read options that Auburn runs, they will have a chance to be successful.  If not, it could be a long and frustrating day for Steve Spurrier and the Gamecock defense.

Key Player:

QB Stephen Garcia

In the last match-up between Auburn and South Carolina, Garcia was able to torch Auburn's secondary for 235 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Alshon Jeffery.  The problem for Garcia was holding onto the ball.  He fumbled often and arguably cost the Gamecocks a chance to win in the fourth quarter.  Look for Garcia to put that game behind him and lead South Carolina's offense against Auburn's mediocre secondary.  If Garcia can take care of the ball, the Gamecock offense should have a chance to put points on the board and win the game.

Prediction:

(19)South Carolina 35  (1)Auburn 32

College Prep

Many students come through middle school and high school with the expectation of one day continuing their education past high school.  Students are prepared by parents, teachers, and guidance counselors from the time they enter high school to enter college with the knowledge and advice that they need to succeed.

            But just how well are students being prepared for college?  Are they being given enough information to be a well-groomed college student upon entering an institution of higher learning?

            “I was not given a lot of advice during high school about the different ways that professors teach their classes in college,” said Jace Jarrell, a second year physical education student at the University of South Carolina.  “Most of the information I was given in high school was geared towards making it to college, such as SAT and ACT scores and things of that nature.”

            Many students go into college not knowing what to major in.  This can be a problem later on in a student’s college career.  Knowing what to major in could help save you time and money in your college experience.  Students are not given enough advice to start thinking about their major in high school.

            “The majority of my high school career was based around the fine-tuning of my GPA,” said Jarrell.  “It seemed like as long as my GPA was high and I did well on my SAT, that I would do fine in college.  Not a lot of focus was on the aspects of college, like majors and so forth.  I consider myself one of the lucky ones because I knew what to major in before I left high school.”

            Another influential person in a student’s life can be his or her teacher.  Teachers have the unique opportunity to form a relationship with a student and can become a substantial influence in their decision making process.  Teachers can be helpful in the way that they have already been through the college or university experience and can prepare students for college life better than a counselor may be able to.

            “I was able to form relationships with a couple of my students in high school,” said Tom Wood, physical education teacher and basketball coach at Garrett Tech High School.  “I am able to meet some interesting students and it is always neat to find out where they are coming from and their different paths to college.  I find myself to be an influence in their decisions and I think that is a helpful thing.”

            Students who have relationships with teachers could find themselves to have an easier time adjusting to the sometimes stressful environment of college.  Teachers can help students prepare by giving them ideas about how living away from home, managing your time wisely and focusing on studies can be difficult early on in college.

            “My teachers in high school were helpful in preparing me for the life outside of the classroom in college,” said Jarrell.  “I would have had no idea what to expect outside of just school and studying once I got to college if it were not for my teachers in high school.  My parents never went to college so they were new to the experience also.”

            “Students come to me often asking about college life,” said Wood. “I am able to give tips to most of them that their parents could not give them.  Most of their parents did not attend a major college or university and they do not know what to tell their children when asked these questions.  This is where I can feel like such a great influence on their college choices.”

            Teachers find themselves to be a great influence on students during high school, but just how well are students adjusting to the college routine and college classes once they make it to college?

            “I feel like I was not as prepared as I should have been for college once I entered,” said Jarrell.  “My classes in high school were not nearly as difficult as they should have been.  I know that the classes I took were labeled as college preparatory courses, but the classes were significantly harder once I made my way to college.”

            “The classes that I took in high school were not as difficult as the courses I was enrolled in at USC,” said Wood, also a University of South Carolina graduate.  “I felt somewhat prepared, but I could have had a better idea of college if I had some more guidance from my school teachers and counselors.

            “That is why I take time to let students know about the differences between high school and college, because it can make a difference.”

            High school can be a very helpful experience in preparing students for college.  Teachers and counselors do their best to help students succeed.  This process is crucial in the development and preparation of high school students to transfer from high school to college.

            “I think it is very important to prepare a student for college,” said Wood. “It should be one of the most focused areas of high school.  If students have a better idea of what college will be like, than they can make better choices and have a significantly better chance to succeed.”

BCS Blog 11/21/10

BCS Standings released on 11/21:

1. Oregon                       (BYE)
2. Auburn                       (BYE)
3. TCU                           (BYE)
4. Boise State                 (W 51-0 vs. Fresno State)
5. LSU                           (W 43-36 vs. Ole Miss)
6. Stanford                      (W 48-14 @ Cal)
7. Wisconsin                   (W 48-28 @ Michigan)
8. Ohio State                  (W 20-17 @ #20 Iowa)
9. Oklahoma State          (W 48-14 @ Kansas)
10. Michigan State          (W 35-31 vs. Purdue)

My BCS Standings:

1. Auburn
2. Oregon
3. Boise State
4. TCU
5. LSU
6. Stanford
7. Wisconsin
8. Ohio State
9. Oklahoma State
10. Michigan State

Auburn remains #1 in my list after a bye week. Look for a tough match-up when they face (11)Alabama in the annual Iron Bowl this Friday.

Oregon is also coming off of a bye. They face (21)Arizona this week, upset special?

Boise comes in ahead of TCU in my rankings again this week. Their 51-0 rout of Fresno State should give them a bump to #3 in next week's rankings if they can hold off (21)Nevada.

TCU hangs on at #4 after their bye week. New Mexico shouldn't give them much trouble this week.

I like LSU at #5. They had a scare against Ole Miss last week but what's new? Les Miles found a way to get it done again for the Bayou Bengals.

Stanford showed they can play well at Cal. They will play Oregon State at home next week, who is fresh off a  victory against then-20th-ranked USC.

Wisconsin's big road win against Michigan couldn't lift them to #6 this week. They do have the edge for the Big Ten title, however, with the highest BCS ranking in the Big Ten.

Ohio State needs to have a big game against Michigan this week. If they aren't ahead of Wisconsin and Michigan State, they won't be able to win the Big Ten this year.

Oklahoma State continues to play well. Their road win against Kansas may not seem like much, but the Cowboys are in good position to make the Big 12 Championship Game.

Michigan State barely makes my top 10 this week after a scary game against Purdue. If the Spartans want to stay highly-ranked, they need to play much better than they did this past week.

The Post & Cocky Predictions: Week 12

                                Jace          Jeremy         Ryan

                                   (2-3)          (3-2)            (4-1)   

(8)Ohio State at (20)Iowa                     OSU           OSU           OSU

(16)Virginia Tech at (24)Miami               VT              VT             VT

(6)Stanford at California                    Stanford     Stanford        Cal

(8)Nebraska at (19)Texas A&M           Nebraska     A&M      Nebraska

Illinois at Northwestern                         NW            NW             NW

Guest Picker of the Week:

Joseph Finnerty                                  Iowa, Miami, Stanford, A&M, NW

Troy-South Carolina Preview

Click For Video

(17)South Carolina has clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game for the first time in school history after a 36-14 thumping of the the Florida Gators in Gainesville.

The Gamecocks were able to quiet the Gator crowd which was sent into a frenzy after an electrifying 99 yard kickoff return by Andre Debose.  The Gamecocks answered with a five minute drive that ended in a Spencer Lanning 49 yard field goal.  From that point on, it seemed as if the Gators just dissipated.

Freshman RB Marcus Lattimore was the focal point for the South Carolina offensive attack yet again.  Lattimore finished the game with 40 carries for 212 yards and three touchdowns, while QB Stephen Garcia took care of the football and finished the game 15-22 for 156 yards through the air and added another 28 yards on the ground and a touchdown.  Spencer Lanning was also solid on the night, going 3-3 in field goal attempts.

The Gamecock defense had one of the best games they've played all season, giving up only seven points and forcing two turnovers, a problem they've struggled with all season.  Quarterbacks John Brantley, Jordan Reed and Trey Burton finished the game a combined 20-39 for 191 yards, one touchdown and one interception.  Six different Gators carried the ball and only 35 yards on 20 carries combined.

The Troy Trojans (5-4, 4-2) are coming off of a tough loss at home to FIU.  The Trojans are 13th in the nation in passing yards, averaging 292.8 yards per game.  This could cause problems for the Gamecocks. QB Corey Robinson has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns this season with a 132.3 quarterback rating. 

Look for the Trojans to exploit the secondary of South Carolina, who may be looking ahead to a rival game at Clemson next week. The Gamecocks did play one of the best defensive games of the season against Florida, but need to focus this week to beat a pretty solid Troy team.

The Gamecocks need to keep riding the Lattimore train to victory.  Lattimore has proven week-in and week-out just how important he is to South Carolina's success.  If Lattimore gets his numbers, the Gamecocks will win.

Key match-up:

QB Corey Robinson vs. South Carolina's secondary

Just because the Gamecock defense actually showed up for one week against a high-caliber team does not mean that they are off the proverbial hook.  South Carolina's defense needs to show that they can play at a high level every single week to start getting the respect they want.  Look for Robinson to find some holes in the Gamecock secondary to give Troy a shot at upsetting South Carolina this Saturday afternoon. 

Key players:

RB Marcus Lattimore

I probably don't even need to say how important Lattimore has been to Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks this season.  When Lattimore runs the ball consistently, the Gamecocks win.  When he is stopped, they lose.  Over 200 carries, 987 yards, 14 touchdowns.  I think enough has been said.  Give Lattimore at least 30 carries and the Gamecocks will be in good shape.

QB Corey Robinson

It seems like the only player on Troy's team is Robinson from this blog, but he is the key player for Troy.  He needs to play a near perfect game to give the Trojans a shot at the upset. His 2,500 yards this year is an impressive stat but he has thrown 12 interceptions along with his 18 touchdowns. He'll be looking to his main target WR Jerrel Jernigan, who has 58 catches for over 600 yards this year, to try to get some offense going early on in the contest.  

Prediction

Troy 14  (17)South Carolina 38

BCS Blog 11/14/10

BCS standings released on 11/14:

1. Oregon                  (W 15-13 @ California)
2. Auburn                  (W 49-31 vs. Georgia)
3. TCU                      (W 40-35 vs. San Diego State)
4. Boise State            (W 52-14 @ Idaho)
5. LSU                       (W 51-0 vs. UL-Monroe)
6. Stanford                 (W 17-13 @ Arizona State)
7. Wisconsin              (W 83-20 vs. Indiana)
8. Nebraska               (W 20-3 vs. Kansas)
9. Ohio State              (W 38-14 vs. Penn State)
10. Oklahoma State    (W 33-16 @ Texas)

My BCS standings:

1. Auburn
2. Oregon
3. Boise State
4. TCU
5. LSU
6. Wisconsin
7. Stanford
8. Ohio State
9. Nebraska
10. Oklahoma State

I like Auburn at number one for the third straight week. They beat a pretty solid Georgia squad under the allegations surrounding Heisman Trophy candidate Cam Newton. They also locked up the SEC West.  They will play (17)South Carolina for the SEC Title.

Oregon's poor performance at Cal easily puts them at number two, if not lower. I'm not saying they should have routed the Golden Bears on the road, but a double digit win isn't too much to ask from a team averaging over 50 points a game.

Boise State gets the edge over TCU this week after their big win on the road at Idaho. They were heavily favored, as usual, and took care of business.

TCU's ugly win against a sub par San Diego State team after a rout of then number five Utah puts the Horned Frogs behind Boise State this week. TCU needs to step it up next week against New Mexico.

LSU had a big offensive weekend, scoring 51 points on a lowly UL-Monroe team. With Auburn's win over Georgia, however, the Tigers are eliminated from conference championship contention.

Wisconsin's offense scored 83 points in a game. Granted it was against Indiana, but still an impressive number from a football team. I give them the number six spot this week.

Stanford had some trouble on the road this week but managed to pull out a win at Arizona State. They play Pac-10 rival Cal next week in what should be another tough battle for Stanford.

Ohio State started off slowly against rival Penn State but ended up routing the Nittany Lions 38-14 at home.  The Buckeyes are still in contention for the Big Ten Title, but may need a Wisconsin loss to win the conference title.

Nebraska bounced back from an ugly win last week to beat Kansas at home. The Huskers have a tough road game next week as they take on Texas A&M in primetime.

Oklahoma State rounds out the top 10 this week after a win on the road at Texas.  They have played solid football all year and look to continue their winning ways at Kansas next week.

South Carolina-Florida Preview

Click For Video

The (23)South Carolina Gamecocks (6-3, 4-3) will travel to Gainesville, FL to take on the (23)Florida Gators (6-3, 4-3) this Saturday night to see who will play for the SEC Championship.

The Gators took care of business last week, beating the Vanderbilt Commodores 55-14 in a game that featured a 34-point second quarter.  Florida quarterbacks John Brantley and Jordan Reed were a combined 22 of 37 passing for 277 yards and three touchdowns, Reed threw the lone interception for the Gators.  But passing wasn’t the only thing the Gators had clicking on offense last Saturday.  The Florida rushing attack included five different players, the leading rusher being Jordan Reed, carrying the ball 16 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. 

The Gator defense also got in on the action, shutting down Vanderbilt in all phases of the game, holding quarterbacks Jared Funk and Larry Smith to a mere 63 passing yards.  Even kicker Ryan Fowler was 0-1 in his only passing attempt.  The Vanderbilt ground game was non-existent as well, rushing for only 46 yards on 38 attempts.

The Gamecocks handled their business a little differently.

South Carolina was dominated for all four quarters of football Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium, falling 41-20 to (15)Arkansas.  Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett had his way with the transparent Gamecocks secondary, throwing for 303 yards and a touchdown.  RB Knile Davis was effective for the Razorbacks as well, carrying the ball 22 times for 110 yards and three touchdowns.  WR Cobi Hamilton stood out in the absence of star-receiver Greg Childs, catching seven balls for 111 yards and a touchdown.

South Carolina’s offense had trouble getting going all night long. QB Stephen Garcia was 14 for 29 throwing for 161 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.  Head Coach Steve Spurrier failed to get Marcus Lattimore in on the game plan, giving the freshman only 11 carries for 30 yards and he also added one catch for 10 yards.  The non-existent running attack put a lot of pressure on Garcia, leaving the Gamecock offense with many quick three-and-outs.

The Gamecocks should try to establish the run this weekend against the Gators.  The consequences of a non-effective rushing attack were shown against Arkansas.  Lattimore wasn’t included in the game plan nearly enough and South Carolina paid dearly for it.  If the Gamecocks can get Lattimore going, it should give Stephen Garcia some play-action opportunities to find open receivers.  The Gators have been playing inspired football the past couple of weeks while the Gamecocks have looked mediocre at best.  They need a strong week of practice to increase their level of intensity this weekend and give the Gators all they can handle.

The Gators have a duel-threat at quarterback with John Brantley being the pocket style passer and Jordan Reed the scrambler.  Reed has rushed for 103 yards in two weeks after converting from tight end and John Brantley has racked up over 1,600 yards and eight touchdowns through the air this year.  This could cause problems for South Carolina if they are used effectively.  Look for Florida to attack the weak Gamecock secondary early and often as the Razorbacks did last week. 

Key Match-up:

Marcus Lattimore vs. Florida’s front-seven
Freshman Marcus Lattimore has proven that he is a big factor in whether South Carolina’s offense is effective this year.  In the first half of South Carolina’s loss at Kentucky, the Gamecocks racked up a 28-10 lead behind Lattimore’s 212 total yards.  Without him in the second half, the Gamecocks were ineffective and held scoreless, losing 31-28.  When he was unable to get going against Arkansas, the same result happened.  The Gamecock offense was lackluster and with a hapless defensive effort, South Carolina lost 41-20 in front of their home crowd where they hadn’t lost all season.  Lattimore will be going against a Florida defense that has allowed 121.2 rushing yards per game this season, which is good for 27^th in the nation, so look for the Gamecocks to try to loosen up that front-seven for Florida and open up some opportunities in the passing game.

Key Players:
South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia
Garcia struggled last week in the absence of a running game.  The ball was placed in his hands and he was forced into a position where he had to take the reins and win the game for Carolina.  That isn’t where he is going to be effective.  He was pressured often by Arkansas and was forced into tough 3^rd and longs and threw two interceptions.  If he can get some help from the running game, he should be more effective and have a chance to make some big plays and help the Gamecocks get to their first SEC Championship Game in school history.

Florida QB John Brantley
Brantley was very efficient for the Gators last week, splitting time with Jordan Reed.  He threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns in a comfortable Florida victory at Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks will need to pressure Brantley and try to cause some turnovers if they hope to stop Florida’s offensive attack.  Look for Brantley to find holes in South Carolina’s struggling secondary and try to jump out to an early lead.

Prediction:
(23)South Carolina 28  (22)Florida 27

The Post & Cocky Predictions: Week 11

                                          Jace          Jeremy          Ryan   

Georgia at (2)Auburn                              Georgia       Auburn        Auburn

Penn State at (9)Ohio State                  Ohio State   Ohio State   Ohio State

(20)Virginia Tech at North Carolina          VT               VT             UNC

(23)South Carolina at (22)Florida            Florida        Florida    South Carolina

Clemson at Florida State                      Clemson      Clemson    Florida State

BCS Blog 11/7/10

BCS Top 10 11/7

1. Oregon                (W 53-16 vs. Washington)

2. Auburn                (W 62-24 vs. Chattanooga)

3. TCU                    (W 47-7 @ #5 Utah)

4. Boise State          (W 42-7 vs. Hawaii)

5. LSU                     (W 24-21 vs. #6 Alabama)

6. Stanford               (W 42-17 vs. #15 Arizona)

7. Wisconsin            (W 34-13 @ Purdue)

8. Nebraska             (W 31-30 OT @ Iowa State)

9. Ohio State            (BYE)

10. Oklahoma State  (W 55-28 vs. #21 Baylor)

My BCS Top 10

1. Auburn

2. Oregon

3. TCU

4. Boise State

5. LSU

6. Stanford

7. Wisconsin

8. Ohio State

9. Oklahoma State

10. Nebraska

In my previous blog, I had Auburn at number one and I believe they stay there this week. They had an easy win against Chattanooga and will face a possible trap game against Georgia next week. If Auburn can win next week, they will clinch a spot in the SEC Championship Game, regardless of what happens against Alabama.

Oregon had another dominating win over a Pac-10 squad.  I like Oregon's chances to run the table and believe that they have a shot to be number one at the end of the season.  As for now, they remain at number two behind Auburn.

TCU had a very impressive win over the previously 5th ranked Utah Utes in Salk Lake City.  After that big win, the Horned Frogs have put themselves in position to have a shot at the National Championship if Auburn loses a game before the end of the season.

Boise State had another solid victory over another sub-par opponent.  Unfortunately for the Broncos, TCU dominated Utah on the road and gives them a bigger "signature" win than Boise had over Virginia Tech earlier in the season, leaving Boise State with a very slim chance to make the National Championship Game.

LSU found a way to get in done yet again.  Les Miles used his bye week to his advantage taking down powerhouse Alabama in Baton Rouge.  A big win like that has to put you in the BCS National Championship mix and the Tigers will be hoping that Auburn falls to both Georgia and Alabama, putting LSU right back in the conversation.

Stanford had a solid win over #15 Arizona Saturday night, pushing them up into the top ten at number six.  I like Stanford to win the rest of their regular season games and get another shot at their only defeat, Oregon, in the Pac-10 Championship.

Wisconsin has continued to win after their upset win over previous number one Ohio State, beating Purdue on the road this past weekend.  I give them the edge over Ohio State due to their home win over the Buckeyes earlier in the season.

Ohio State had a bye week going into a manageable game against rival Penn State.  The only momentum Penn State may have going into the game is that Head Coach Joe Paterno just earned his 400th victory last week.  

Oklahoma State had a big win over #21 Baylor and will look to continue their good fortune in the Big 12 this year.  After that dominating win over a top-25 team, they move up a couple of spots to number nine.

I have Nebraska dropping a few spots to number ten after their scare against non-ranked Iowa State.  Given Iowa State is a pesky team in the Big 12, Nebraska should have won without any trouble as a top ten BCS team.  This should be a wake up call for Nebraska and get them on track as they try to make a push for the Big 12 Title Game.

Impact Game of the Week:

Georgia at (2)Auburn

If the Bulldogs can pull of the upset at Auburn this week, it would cause a big shake-up in not just the BCS, but also the SEC.  The Bulldogs are coming off of a tough loss a couple of weeks ago at Florida and an easy win last week against Idaho State.  I think this could be a very entertaining game and could get (5)LSU back in the SEC and National Championship mix.

Game to Watch:
(23)South Carolina at (22)Florida

This Gamecocks travel to Gainesville to take on the Gators for a shot at the SEC crown this Saturday.  The Gamecocks were beaten soundly at home by (15)Arkansas last week while the Gators took down Vandy 55-14.  This promises to be a great game and will give the winner a spot in the SEC Championship Game.

Arkansas-South Carolina Preview

(18)South Carolina hosts (17)Arkansas in what promises to be one of the most exciting games on the college football schedule this week.

The Gamecocks are coming off of a 38-24 scare against the Tennessee Volunteers and are looking to build some momentum going into their (most likely) winner take all match-up against the Florida Gators in "The Swamp" next week.  The Razorbacks are looking to build on their 49-14 thrashing of the Vanderbilt Commodores last week in which QB Ryan Mallett threw for over 400 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Look for the Gamecocks to try to establish the running game early as temperatures are expected to be in the upper to mid 30's. The Razorback defense has allowed 175.1 rushing yards per game this year, good for 82nd in the nation, which plays right into the hands of the Gamecocks running attack. Freshman RB Marcus Lattimore has rushed for over 700 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this year for the Gamecocks. Lattimore returned to action last week after missing the Vanderbilt contest with a sprained ankle and racked up 210 total yards, 184 of them coming on the ground, and also added a touchdown.

The Razorbacks will be looking to attack a depleted Gamecocks secondary with their 2nd ranked passing attack. The Gamecocks allowed 312 passing yards to a Tennessee passing attack that averages only 213.6 yards per game and Ryan Mallett should be licking his chops when he looks forward to this match-up. The only thing that may play into the hands of the Gamecocks is the weather. The low temperatures should make the ball slick and tougher to grip for the quarterbacks, which may put emphasis on the running game for Arkansas which hasn't proven to be very effective this season. The Razorbacks will also be playing without leading receiver Greg Childs who was lost to a knee injury and will miss the rest of the season.

Key Match-up:
QB Ryan Mallett vs. the South Carolina secondary

The Gamecocks lost Chris Culliver to a torn pectoral muscle and strained right bicep after last week's win over Tennessee. This injury has caused the already reeling Gamecock secondary to make some changes. Junior C.C. Whitlock has been promoted to starting corner opposite Stephon Gilmore, Akeem Auguste will move back to his original position at free safety leaving DeVonte Holloman at strong safety, and former walk-on special teamer Marty Markett may even see some playing time at corner this Saturday night. This scrambled and confused secondary needs to have the game of their lives this weekend to even hope to contain Arkansas' passing game. Look for this match-up to be a key factor in who wins and loses the game.

Key Players:
South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia

If Garcia can manage the game as well as he has been this year, the Gamecocks will definitely have a shot at winning this game. The cold weather should leave the ball slick and tough to handle, which can lead to some fumbles. Garcia struggled with fumbling early in the year but has controlled his urge to drop the football in the past several weeks. If Garcia can hold onto the ball and make a few key passes, he has plenty of weapons and a very solid running game to back him up, which should put the Gamecocks in position to win. 

Arkansas RB Knile Davis

With a lot of the focus of practice this week being the secondary for the Gamecocks, the running game could be a key factor for Arkansas Saturday. Davis has rushed for 552 yards and 6 touchdowns this year in a pass-first offense at Arkansas. If the defense is focused hard on the pass, look for holes to open up in the running game and some chances for Knile Davis to show what he can do. 

Prediction:

(18)South Carolina 38 (17)Arkansas 34

BCS Blog 10/31/10

Here is the BCS top 10 released on 10/31:

1.Oregon       (W 53-32 @ USC)
2.Auburn       (W 51-31 @ Ole Miss)
3.TCU           (W 48-6 @ UNLV)
4.Boise State (W 49-20 vs. LA Tech)
5.Utah           (W 28-23 @ Air Force)
6.Alabama     (BYE)
7.Nebraska   (W 31-17 vs. Missouri)
8.Oklahoma  (W 43-10 vs. Colorado)
9.Wisconsin  (BYE)
10.LSU        (BYE)

Here is my BCS top 10 for 10/31:
1.Auburn
2.Oregon
3.Boise State
4.TCU
5.Utah
6.Alabama
7.Nebraska
8.Oklahoma
9.Wisconsin
10.Ohio State

In my opinion, Auburn is the best team in the nation, they have played the toughest schedule in the toughest conference in college football.
Oregon has had an impressive margin of victory in the majority of their games and are a close second.
I think Boise State should be number three, they continue to win week in and week out and should have a shot at the national championship if Oregon goes down. The only way Boise should not play for the national championship is if Auburn and Oregon win out, or if one-loss Alabama defeats Auburn and goes on to win the SEC Championship Game. This should put Alabama above Boise, leaving Boise out of the big game once again.
TCU had another impressive win over another hapless opponent, which should leave them at number four. They have the toughest test of their season coming up this week, playing (5)Utah.
I agree with the rest of the standings except for (10)LSU.
Alabama is coming off of a bye week and will play a tough game in Baton Rouge against the number ten LSU Tigers this weekend, who are also coming off of a bye.
Nebraska took down (12)Missouri after their big win over then number one Oklahoma, moving them up from  14 to 7, switching spots with Missouri.
Oklahoma bounced back with a 43-10 blowout over Colorado, leaving them in the top 10 mix.
Wisconsin is coming off of a bye week and will play at Purdue and then host Indiana in the next two weeks and should be 9-1 after those two games.
Ohio State should be number 10 in my opinion. They blew out Minnesota on the road, giving them the boost into the top 10.

Impact Game of the Week:
(6)Alabama @ (10)LSU
(10)LSU had a tough loss at Auburn and will host (6)Alabama after a bye week. This has the potential to have the biggest impact on the BCS this week if LSU can take down Alabama, which would basically give Auburn the SEC West Division and make the Iron Bowl less meaningful. If Alabama can win on the road in a tough environment, Auburn and Alabama will be on a collision course for the SEC West and a chance to play for the national title.

Listener supported shortage

Many businesses and organizations have felt the impact of the economic downturn in the United States during this past decade.  Possibly one of the hardest hit areas are the non-profit organizations.

            One such non-profit organization is WKCL Radio located in Ladson, SC outside of Charleston.  WKCL has been debt free and working under the same owners for 30 years.  They serve the Charleston area and are one of the oldest radio stations in the area.

One of the main ways radio stations stay up-and-running is through business advertising during on-air programming. Due to FCC rules, WKCL is unable to sell advertising to businesses and still be considered non-profit.  This can be a problem in raising funds to support the radio station.

“We cannot do commercials,” said JoAnn Cantrell, on-air personality for WKCL Radio. “We are restricted by the FCC on some things. We can announce businesses that support the station but we cannot make a call to action, we can’t say in our on-air commercial ‘Go by to see Jiffy Lube’ or announce any calls to action, we can just state what the company is, what they do, and how you get in touch with them, and their location.”

            WKCL has a commitment to staying a non-profit organization.  The owner of WKCL has had many offers to buy the station but has turned all of them down.

            Donations have made a significant drop from the norm at WKCL in the past few years.

            “We are about 25 percent down from what we normally are,” said Cantrell.  “We’ve usually had the same amount per donation but less people are giving.  People give one time gifts but it varies on what people are able to give. We have a $10,000 gift on the way. The average is about $20-25 a month per contributor.”

            It has been tough on the contributors to WKCL to continue their annual giving.  The downturn in the economy has caused Americans to cut down in unnecessary spending and to start tightening up their budgets.  Charitable donations are one of the first areas that families can cut from their budget

            “It has been tough on us to continue our giving to WKCL in the past few years,” said Cindy Kinard, a WKCL contributor.  “We’ve tried to give what we can but our donations have become less frequent lately.”

            To continue airing music and programming as usual, the radio station has to continue to update and repair older equipment. This is one of the most important aspects of a radio station.  Without proper funding, this has been a problem for the station.

            “Our main transmitter has been running 24/7 for 21 years now,” said Cantrell. “We’ve had to fix it several times and have not been able to purchase a new one due to the lack of donations.  The life span of a normal transmitter is about 20-22 years.”

            WKCL is not the only organization that has had a shortage in donations.  Many organizations around the Charleston area and around the nation are finding problems finding other ways to fundraise.  Many organizations have been forced to change ways they find money.

            “There are a couple of other stations in the Charleston area that were completely listener supported,” said Cantrell, “but now they get commercials and they are not totally non-profit, they accept donations and also offer advertising  to make profit.”

            The shortages in donations have been a problem for both the non-profit organizations that receive and rely on them to stay running and for the people who donate to them. The shortages in donations have led to WKCL cutting out some programming.

            “WKCL used to have a good segment on Sunday mornings about family activity ideas,” Cindy Kinard said, “but now they have removed it due to low funding.  We used to enjoy that show and got some really good ideas from it.”

            Despite the shortages in funding, Cantrell is confident that the station will withstand the tough times and continue broadcasting to the Charleston area for years to come.

            “We’ve been around for a long time,” Cantrell said. “We have plenty of contributions and we will be alright.  We will persevere.”