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South Carolina football: don’t judge these Gamecocks yet

By Richard Gnann

COLUMBIA, SC - SEPTEMBER 08: Tyson Campbell #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs tries to stop Bryan Edwards #89 of the South Carolina football Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - SEPTEMBER 08: Tyson Campbell #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs tries to stop Bryan Edwards #89 of the South Carolina football Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Saturday evening, the Georgia Bulldogs emerged from behind the barn dragging a whipped South Carolina football team. But that doesn’t mean the Gamecocks are weaklings.

The SEC East Bully Bulldogs threw South Carolina football back in their place Saturday, delivering a 41-17 thrashing that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

Still, for a half, South Carolina looked like contenders. Despite the second half pummeling, they’re still pretty good. The Dawgs are just in another league.

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Everyone’s favorite upset pick

This game was the sexy upset pick for week two,  and there seemed a certain logic to the assertion that South Carolina would get the Dawgs. The game was in Williams-Brice Stadium, the temperature was to be a bit cooler than the sun, and the humidity would register about like a hurricane. The South Carolina football crazies would scream and wave towels and we all know the South Carolina football team began preparations for this game around the second week in January.

The South Carolina football team also returned wunderkind Deebo Samuel to active duty. The three spot first team 2018 preseason all-SEC choice is not just a game changer, but a season changer. Throwing to Samuel and the other talented Gamecock wideouts would be the always talented and now veteran quarterback Jake Bentley.

All of those facts should have produced a game decided in the fourth quarter, except for one thing: Georgia is a monster.

The Bulldog monster

The Bulldog offensive line is big, powerful, athletic, and deep. Jake Fromm improved on his stunning freshman skills and is throwing to more and better receivers. D’Andre Swift is as good as any running back in the country.

On defense, Georgia is also big, fast, athletic, and deep with two likely first round draft picks in the secondary alone. The defense is also smooth as silk between the whistles now, substituting quickly and reading offenses pre-snap with precision.

On Sunday morning, the South Carolina football team is the same squad that received consensus nine win or better predictions on the year. Head Coach Will Muschamp is still a defensive whiz and young offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon is still an assistant on the rise.

Expect Deebo Samuel to crash the Heisman race

Focus on the next game

The Gamecocks can now put aside the preseason pipe dream of unseating the Bulldogs in the SEC East and focus on the week by week grind of the SEC season. Expect Deebo Samuel to crash the Heisman race and Jake Bentley to prove himself one of the top five quarterbacks in the SEC. Expect the Gamecocks to beat everyone they beat last year in the SEC East. The Gamecocks get Missouri at home and that game is a toss up.

Then the South Carolina football staff will hit the road and enjoy another good recruiting season, likely putting more space between themselves and Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Florida.

Next. James Cook carries Dawg's dreams. dark

It’s all good, Gamecock fans. Don’t let Georgia stay between your ears. And there’s still Clemson to dream of, too. It could still be a glorious season,

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