Facing LSU at Tiger Stadium is daunting enough. Part cathedral, part Roman Coliseum, the Tigers boast a nation's-best 21-game home winning streak.
Facing LSU at Tiger Stadium at night is even more dangerous. The Tigers have gone 35-1 under Les Miles in Saturday night games at "Death Valley."
Facing an angry LSU team, on Saturday night, at Tiger Stadium? That could pass for a death wish.
The "unholy darkness" of LSU's Tiger Stadium at night.
Yet if any team has the confidence to counteract that, it's the Gamecocks, who throttled Georgia 35-7 en route to a #3 national ranking. Aside from Alabama's thrashing of Michigan in Week One, it makes a compelling case as the most impressive game by a Top-25 team against a fellow ranked opponent this year. LSU returns to Baton Rouge with its undefeated record smudged -- but its confidence intact -- after a flat, 14-6 road loss to Florida. A loss in consecutive weeks, which hasn't happened in Baton Rouge since 2009, could spoil a season that began with the Tigers ranked #1.
It sets the stage for a smashmouth showdown where the intangibles (crowd, urgency, handling expectations) could play as big a role as the tangibles.
"Pre-Snap Reads" before the Gamecocks venture into the unholy darkness of Tiger Stadium (8:00 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):
"Metten" Me In The Backfield? Carolina could make it a long couple of weeks for the Mettenberger family. On Saturday, the Gamecocks will try to stymie Tigers quarterback Zach Mettenberger. His mother, Tammy, is a longtime administrative assistant in the University of Georgia football office.
(Imagine the call volume they've had this week.)
LSU QB Zach Mettenberger
Mettenberger will try to revive an enigmatic LSU offense that has lacked a true, emergent playmaker this season, and has only scored 1 touchdown in 2 SEC games. The Watkinsville, Ga., native has an SEC-caliber arm (61.5% completion percentage), but lacks the mobility of a Connor Shaw. He told reporters last week, "My game is definitely not running around laterally in the pocket." Unlike most of the offenses Carolina has faced, Mettenberger takes the majority of his snaps from under center, rather than shotgun. Could that leave him more vulnerable to Carolina's swarming pass rush (25.0 sacks, 2nd NCAA)?
Mettenberger may also play with an offensive line that's less than full-strength. Right guard Josh Williford is recovering from a concussion. Starting left tackle Chris Faulk was felled by a season-ending knee injury against Washington. His replacement, Alex Hurst, will likely miss the game due to personal issues. That could cause the Tigers to lean on a power running game (198.3 yards/game, 5th SEC) featuring junior Spencer Ware and sophomore Kenny Hilliard.
Then again, Les Miles has perfected the unpredictable at LSU. Stay tuned.
Making "Ends" Meet: Why will the defensive ends play Saturday?
Because they can't play on Sunday.
The bookends will have a distinctly NFL feel when the Gamecocks and Tigers line up at Tiger Stadium. While Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor bear down for Carolina, LSU will unleash ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery, juniors who rate as Mel Kiper's #3 and #4 overall picks in his ESPN NFL mock draft. Mingo leads the Tigers in quarterback hurries (7), and will test Shaw's ability to improvise if the pocket collapses. That pressure has allowed LSU to shut down passing offenses, despite a secondary that lost cornerbacks Morris Claiborne (NFL) and Heisman finalist Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu (dismissed).
South Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation in pass efficiency (180.92). LSU ranks 3rd in the nation in pass efficiency defense (90.15). Can the Gamecocks execute in the face of a pressure that may remind them of - well, their own defense?
Pass Efficiency NCAA Rank
South Carolina Offense 180.9 2nd
LSU Defense 90.2 3rd
Namely Speaking: Mingo has an award you may not see on his LSU bio page: winner of the coveted 2009 Name of the Year competition. We'll see if Mike Matulis can provide stiffer competition than Taco Vandervelde or Nutritious Love.
Giveth, Taketh Away: A turnover can easily swing momentum. That is, unless your defense swings back.
The South Carolina defense has not allowed a single point to be scored after a turnover, despite 8 giveaways on the season (2 INT, 6 fumbles lost). Conversely, of the 77 points the LSU defense has allowed, 34 of them - nearly 45% - have come following a turnover.
Team Turnovers Committed Opponent Points off Turnovers SEC Rank
USC 8 0 1st
LSU 11 34 14th
In a big game, a team needs to do two things: minimize your own mistakes, and maximize your opponent's. The Gamecocks need to capitalize on their turnovers - and continue preventing LSU from doing the same.
Did You Know: Eric Reid, Sr., the father of LSU safety Eric Reid, Jr., won an NCAA track title for the Tigers in the 110-meter high hurdles. He currently works across from Tiger Stadium as a director in LSU's Office of Parking, Traffic, and Transportation.
In case you're wondering: yes, Eric, Jr., has received two parking tickets at LSU.
Team Punt Return Yards NCAA Rank
South Carolina 275 4th*
LSU 2 (allowed) 5th
*-Two years ago, South Carolina ranked 115th in the nation in punt return yards
Ace Sanders will engage in a heated duel with LSU's cannon-legged punter Brad Wing (45.3 yds./punt). Wing tweeted this week that he has studied Sanders' runback against Georgia relentlessly on his cell phone. In a game between two airtight defenses, where field position will be a battle unto itself, "hidden yards" could play a not-so-hidden role.
And Finally: Steve Spurrier's career-long win streak is 12 games at Florida in 1995. A win Saturday could set him up to tie his record... at Florida next week.
Now that we're prepared, we hope you are as well. Our pre-game coverage starts at 5:00 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network. We'll see you in Baton Rouge. -AD--
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