WHAT CHANNEL IS THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAME ON?
Who: S.C. State Bulldogs (1-2) at South Carolina Gamecocks (2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) in Columbia, S.C.
TV: SEC Network
Stream: via ESPN app
On-air announce crew: Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Andraya Carter (sideline)
Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (Todd Ellis, play-by-play; Tommy Suggs, analyst; Jamar Nesbit, sideline) … See all the radio affiliates around South Carolina here.
Satellite radio: Sirius/XM 106 or 192
Series history: South Carolina leads 2-0
WEATHER FORECAST FOR COLUMBIA, SC
There’s a small chance of showers on Thursday night during the game, with temperatures during the game in the mid-to-upper-60s
ESPN FPI GAME PREDICTION ESPN’s
Football Power Index gives South Carolina a 98.1% chance to win over the Bulldogs on Thursday.
Thursday, 7 p.m., S.C. State vs. South Carolina (-37.5)
STORYLINES FOR THE GAME
Short week for USC: South Carolina is following up its win on Saturday against Charlotte with a midweek game against S.C. State. The game was moved due to Hurricane Ian possible impacts on South Carolina this weekend. The change gives USC a few extra days before facing Kentucky on Oct. 8.
Buddy Pough back in Columbia: Longtime S.C. State coach Buddy Pough was on the South Carolina coaching staff from 1997-2002 as an assistant. He coached against USC twice in the past with the Bulldogs, in 2007 and 2009.
Familiar faces for Cam Smith: The USC corner said he knows about a dozen players on the Bulldogs from childhood. He specifically named wide receiver Shaquan Davis as someone he’s been in contact with. Davis is S.C. State’s leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
Progress in the run game: South Carolina controlled the run game against Charlotte, racking up a season-high 295 yards. Running the ball was a talking point throughout the first three weeks, so how the team looks to continue that momentum against S.C. State will be something to monitor.
Eric Douglas faces their father’s alma mater: Douglas’ father, Eric Sr., attended S.C. State and was an All-American. This is the first time the younger Douglas will face the Bulldogs in his career.
Gamecocks go for back-to-back wins: South Carolina has not won two games in a row in the same season since the first two games last year, as all of the remaining nine games alternated between wins and losses. Against an FCS opponent, South Carolina is in a position to form a small winning streak.
GAMECOCK PLAYERS TO WATCH
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, South Carolina: Lloyd put together the best game of his career on Saturday with 169 rushing yards and three touchdowns. This was the first time the Gamecocks could control things on the ground, so look for them to try it again on a Bulldogs team that’s allowing 255.7 rushing yards per game.
Gilber Edmond, DE, South Carolina: Edmond has emerged as one of the key members of the USC front seven. He was disruptive against Charlotte and has been active in South Carolina’s other games this season with the injuries to the defense.
BULLDOG PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kendrell Flowers, RB, S.C. State: South Carolina has struggled against the run this year and will face a productive running back in Flowers. Flowers, who played at Irmo High School, is averaging 6.5 yards per carry through three games but just 52 yards per game. If he can get going on the ground, however, the Bulldogs could string together some long drives.
Shaquan Davis, WR, S.C. State: The Bulldogs have struggled in the passing game, completing just 44% of their passes all year. But Davis has been the lone bright spot in that area, averaging 83 yards per game in the air.
Last edited:
