South Carolina at Missouri: Three-minute college football preview
When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
TV/radio: SEC Network; KMBZ (98.1 FM)
The series: Missouri leads 3-2
The line: Missouri by 2 1/2
MISSOURI (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 5 | Southeast Missouri | W, 34-3 |
Sept. 12 | at Arkansas State | W, 27-20 |
Sept. 19 | Connecticut | W, 9-6 |
Sept. 26 | at Kentucky | L, 21-13 |
Saturday | South Carolina | 11 a.m. |
Oct. 10 | Florida | 6:30 p.m. |
Oct. 17 | at Georgia | TBA |
Oct. 24 | at Vanderbilt | TBA |
Nov. 5 | Mississippi State | 8 p.m. |
Nov. 14 | vs. BYU (at Arrowhead Stadium) | TBA |
Nov. 21 | Tennessee | TBA |
Nov. 27 | at Arkansas | 1:30 p.m. |
SOUTH CAROLINA (2-2, 0-2 SEC)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 3 | vs. North Carolina | W, 17-13 |
Sept. 12 | Kentucky | L, 26-22 |
Sept. 19 | at Georgia | L, 52-20 |
Sept. 26 | Central Florida | W, 31-14 |
Saturday | at Missouri | 11 a.m. |
Oct. 10 | LSU | 11 a.m. |
Oct. 17 | Vanderbilt | TBA |
Oct. 31 | at Texas A&M | TBA |
Nov. 7 | at Tennessee | TBA |
Nov. 14 | Florida | TBA |
Nov. 21 | The Citadel | TBA |
Nov. 28 | Clemson | TBA |
What’s at stake
After losing to Kentucky, Missouri’s shot at a third straight SEC East division title dropped considerably. Its shot would become nonexistent with a loss to South Carolina, and bowl eligibility also would become a major question mark.
Cheers if …
Missouri’s offense recovers. The Tigers didn’t have any three-and-outs and converted a season-high 42.9 percent of the time on third down, going six of 14, at Kentucky. It represents progress, but the trick is converting progress to points against South Carolina.
Jeers if …
Missouri’s doesn’t protect freshman quarterback Drew Lock. The Lee’s Summit graduate is making his first career college start and could use some help. That starts with protection in the passing game and, ideally, establishing a complementary run game.
Three things about South Carolina
1 Running back Brandon Wilds, who is second on the Gamecocks with 181 yards in 35 carries, and starting center Alan Knott are “very doubtful” for the game, according to coach Steve Spurrier.
2 Freshman quarterback Lorenzo Nunez leads South Carolina in rushing with 30 carries for 239 yards, a healthy 8.0-yard average. He is eight of 11 for 107 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the second half this season.
3 The Gamecocks have been one of the best teams in the nation picking off passes with six through four games. Lock should take extra care to avoid turnovers against, especially with linebacker Skai Moore and his three interceptions lurking.
Key matchup
Missouri’s wide receivers vs. South Carolina’s secondary: Every Gamecocks opponent this season has completed at least 60 percent of its passes. That suggests players are getting open, which the Tigers’ receivers must do to help Lock.
MISSOURI OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 6 | J’Mon Moore | 6-3 | 190 | So. |
WR | 2 | Nate Brown | 6-3 | 205 | So. |
LT | 60 | Connor McGovern | 6-4 | 305 | Sr. |
LG | 63 | Brad McNulty | 6-4 | 305 | Sr. |
C | 77 | Evan Boehm | 6-3 | 310 | Sr. |
RG | 73 | Mitch Hall | 6-5 | 310 | Sr. |
RT | 62 | Taylor Chappell | 6-5 | 305 | Sr. |
TE | 10 | Jason Reese | 6-5 | 250 | So. |
WR | 18 | Wesley Leftwich | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
QB | 3 | Drew Lock | 6-4 | 205 | Fr. |
RB | 32 | Russell Hansbrough | 5-9 | 195 | Sr. |
K | 99 | Andrew Baggett | 6-1 | 215 | Sr. |
MISSOURI DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 56 | Walter Brady | 6-3 | 255 | Fr. |
DT | 79 | Terry Beckner Jr. | 6-4 | 300 | Fr. |
NG | 97 | Josh Augusta | 6-4 | 345 | Jr. |
DE | 91 | Charles Harris | 6-3 | 255 | So. |
LB | 10 | Kentrell Brothers | 6-1 | 235 | Sr. |
LB | 30 | Michael Scherer | 6-3 | 230 | Jr. |
LB | 25 | Donavin Newsom | 6-2 | 230 | Jr. |
CB | 7 | Kenya Dennis | 5-11 | 200 | Sr. |
SS | 22 | Anthony Sherrils | 6-0 | 190 | So. |
FS | 21 | Ian Simon | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. |
CB | 11 | Aarion Penton | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. |
P | 26 | Corey Fatony | 5-11 | 185 | Fr. |
SOUTH CAROLINA OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 1 | Deebo Samuel | 6-0 | 202 | Fr. |
WR | 11 | Pharoh Cooper | 5-11 | 207 | Jr. |
LT | 71 | Brandon Shell | 6-6 | 328 | Sr. |
LG | 76 | Mike Matulis | 6-5 | 293 | Sr. |
C | 78 | Zack Bailey | 6-6 | 320 | Fr. |
RG | 75 | Will Sport | 6-5 | 295 | Sr. |
RT | 74 | Mason Zandi | 6-9 | 314 | Jr. |
TE | 89 | Jerell Adams | 6-6 | 231 | Sr. |
WR | 5 | Terry Googer | 6-4 | 226 | Fr. |
QB | 19 | Lorenzo Nunez | 6-3 | 210 | Fr. |
RB | 7 | Shon Carson | 5-8 | 206 | Sr. |
K | 29 | Elliott Fry | 6-0 | 164 | Jr. |
SOUTH CAROLINA DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 55 | David Johnson | 6-1 | 240 | So. |
DT | 95 | Dante Sawyer | 6-3 | 291 | So. |
NT | 92 | Gerald Dixon Jr. | 6-3 | 327 | Sr. |
DE | 8 | Marquavius Lewis | 6-3 | 264 | Jr. |
LB | 11 | T.J. Holloman | 6-2 | 231 | Jr. |
LB | 10 | Skai Moore | 6-2 | 218 | Jr. |
LB | 23 | Larenz Bryant | 6-0 | 220 | Jr. |
CB | 7 | Al Harris Jr. | 5-11 | 163 | So. |
FS | 21 | Isaiah Johnson | 6-0 | 209 | Sr. |
SS | 42 | Jordan Diggs | 6-0 | 209 | Jr. |
CB | 1 | Rico McWilliams | 5-11 | 186 | Jr. |
P | 13 | Sean Kelly | 5-10 | 189 | Jr. |
Tod Palmer’s pick: Missouri, 27-17
We have faith in Missouri’s defense to figure a few things out, which should make life easier on the offense. Many think Drew Lock will one day emerge as a special player at Missouri. Perhaps that starts against South Carolina.
Tod Palmer: 816-234-4389, @todpalmer
This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 4:02 PM with the headline "South Carolina at Missouri: Three-minute college football preview."