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Posted By SlamNewton 3 years ago


An Exercise in Futility - Predicting the Gamecocks 2020 Record

This might be the most meaningless thing to do given that the season is in jeopardy of getting cancelled but I cheer for USC so I'm used to things not mattering. The Gamecocks went 4-8 in 2019 and decided that was good enough to give Muschamp another shot. Spoiler: I don't think this year is going to workout any better. Ryan Hilinski should be healthy coming in to the season and looks to build on a shaky freshman year. The arm talent is there, but can he progress through his reads at a quicker pace and not fold at the first sign of pressure? That's what Muschamp needs to figure out, although a better O-Line would certainly aid in that department. With that said here is my game by game prediction for the 2020 season should it happen. Week 1: Coastal Carolina - Win easily 1 - 0 Week 2: East Carolina - ECU always plays USC and most other P5 teams closely, that said I think things in Greenville are still rebuilding and USC should start the season 2 - 0 Week 3: Missouri - The battle of Columbia's. Missouri has done well since joining the SEC East and I think they have the Gamecocks number again this year 2 - 1 Week 4: Kentucky - No longer just a basketball school, Kentucky has beaten up on USC over the past few years and much like Missouri I don't see it stopping this year 2 - 2 Week 5: Florida - Maybe his old team gets Muschamp fired? Blowout loss 2 - 3 Week 6: Tennessee - There is no worse sound in the world than hearing Rocky Top over and over again. But they will score and score a lot. Another big loss 2 - 4 Week 7: Bye - We can't lose this right? Week 8: Texas A&M - The Aggies somehow ended up as USC's cross divisional rival, weird I know. But sadly I think the losing streak contiues 2 - 5 Week 9: Vanderbilt - This is one of the only two remaining games that I think USC has a shot at winning, and I actually think this is a loss that gets Muschamp fired before the end of the season. One back breaking loss coming right up to continue the losing streak. 2 - 6 Week 10: Georgia - Should I even write anything for this??? 2 - 7 Week 11: LSU - We are lucky enough to not face Joe Burrow and squad and break the NCAA record for points allowed, but we still lose this by 30. 2 - 8 Week 12: Wofford - Finally we get back to winning, beating up on a lowly FCS team. Depending on who the next opponent is, maybe this puts us back on the right track?? 3 - 8 Week 13: Clemson - I lied, Clemson and Trevor Lawrence are going to destroy us the way I used to destroy a Groucho's sub on Sunday mornings. Do I even tune in? Do I do my grocery shopping while the game is on so I don't have to watch my boys in Garnet get embarrassed? Who knows but it's going to be ugly. 3 - 9 In a season where Muschsamp needed to double his wins from last year, he does the opposite and losses an extra game. Not much to look forward to this year as a Gamecock fan, so maybe the season getting cancelled isn't the worst thing in the world.

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Latest Comments

Avatar of Jason

Jason
3 years ago


What would you rather have: a good year which means an extension for WM or a bad year and he get canned?


Avatar of SlamNewton

SlamNewton
3 years ago


A bad year and he gets canned, I think he's shown by now he doesn't have it. If he couldn't do it at Florida with all the talent they have year in and year out then he's not going to be able to do it here. A year too late, but better then never should be the motto of the season. The only good thing is that it should signal to future coaches that they'll have time to build here and won't be out the door after a season or two. I really did like the Muschamp hire when it happened, but maybe that was me having garnet colored glasses and thinking he learned from the past.


Avatar of Sunil

Sunil
3 years ago


LOL this is amazing. I think you got 5 wins this year. A bowl would be a miracle and could save Ol' Will's job. Looks like every win will be an entertaining 13-10 type of win. Do you think Muschamp keeps his gig if he makes it to a bowl?


Avatar of SlamNewton

SlamNewton
3 years ago


Sadly I think a bowl game does mean an extension. Our AD loves him and so do players, he's just never been able to put a full team together. Muschamp still sticks to wanting to win games by a strong run game and defense. You can't do that though unless you have talent at every position like Georgia or Alabama. So I think his ceiling is as an 8 - 9 win coach at USC and I'd rather just move on and gamble on someone new.


Avatar of Mike

Mike
3 years ago


It will definitely be interesting to see what happens. Personally I think worst case scenario is Muschamp wins just enough games to give him more time, but doesn’t win enough to spark recruiting. Honestly, I love the analysis though. Especially the Goucho’s sandwich part 😂


Avatar of SlamNewton

SlamNewton
3 years ago


That's what would kill me the most, accepting mediocrity. I'm biased as I became a fan during the Spurrier era which have been our best years by far, but this program should be doing everything to compete, and try to emulate Clemson's model. We're in the SEC and in a great state for recruiting, there's no reason to be complacent.