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COLUMBIA – There is always a chance. Tiny or gargantuan, there is always a chance.
South Carolina are a huge underdog in their match against No. 2 Alabama at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, but yes, there is a chance that the Gamecocks may get angry. Maybe the new quarterback Ryan Hilinski will surprise the Crimson Tide, maybe the USC defense really learned to defend themselves in a week. Maybe the fates line up so that the Gamecocks finally add a number 2 to their list of the top five wins (they beat 1, 3, 4 and 5).
They should be relaxed. They are not just supposed to lose, they are supposed to blow themselves up.
So, if it is close in the fourth quarter, the pressure is exerted on the visitors.
"Let's catch the ball on the ground. Defensively, winning a field position, doing a great job on the special teams controlling the position on the field, said coach Will Muschamp.
Here are four keys to a Gamecocks win:
Hawaiian punch
All quarters can stay indented when there is no pass and find an open receiver. Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama can do it even when it is under pressure.
The Gamecocks had three sacks against North Carolina and one against Charleston Southern (coordinator Travaris Robinson canceled the dogs as USC had won 30 points at the start of a 72-10 loss). He may not need big totals for the bag against Alabama – but that will affect Tagovailoa one way or another.
Go see him. Hit it. Knock it. The bat dies. In short, return to what he was in last year's national league match, when Clemson's defense made him feel like he was playing his first game.
Protect Hilinski
With all that he has gone through, there is no reason USC quarterback Ryan Hilinski is afraid of a football match, let alone an opponent. It will go well under center even if several future NFL millionaires will look at it on the other side of the ball.
However, the offensive line of Gamecocks must keep him as disturbed as possible. They must open holes for the halters so that all pressure is not exerted on Hilinski.
The only way for Gamecocks' two best players, Bryan Edwards and Shi Smith, to receive the ball, is to get the ball if Hilinski allows it. He can not do this unless this reconstructed line prevents Hilinski from the grass.
Quarterback pressure
Cornerback Jaycee Horn has certainly not boasted or promised that Alabama's elite catcher corps, headed by Jerry Jeudy, winner of the 2018 Biletnikoff Award, would be silenced on Saturday. He said he welcomed the challenge because, like any competitor, he wanted to face the best.
Apart from Hilinski, Gamecocks Secondary is the most promising field of the team. If they can cover Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle just enough for Tagovailoa to hesitate, then the USC defensive lineman, D.J. Wonnum and Javon Kinlaw have more time to join him. If this happens, the Alabama offense takes a serious blow.
Storm effect of sand
The Gamecocks beat the No. 4 Ole Miss in 2009. With "Sandstorm" in the Williams-Brice stadium, the crowd and atmosphere were at the party. electric.
The Gamecocks need this support and enthusiasm on Saturday. And USC hopes the match will be close enough for these fans to remain in the stadium until the end of the match.
Muschamp is 1-11 against the top 25 teams. Many of these games were completed at half-time. If the Gamecocks are still in the game in the second half, the public can help them turn an unfortunate opportunity into reality.
Prediction
Alabama 40, South Carolina 18
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.
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