Gameday forecast for Arkansas
Speaking with reporters after Thursday’s practice, Ellis Johnson downplayed the loss of free safety Chris Culliver, who was benched because of a shoulder injury and an incident Monday when he walked out of practice.
“Cully didn’t play well last week,” said Johnson, USC’s assistant head coach for defense. “So you say we’re going to miss him. We ain’t going to miss him with a bad shoulder.”
Johnson did not try to minimize the absence of defensive end Cliff Matthews.
No one around the Gamecocks’ program has tried to.
USC will wake up Saturday morning in Fayetteville, roll out of bed for the 11:21 a.m. local kickoff, and prepare to face a quarterback Johnson called the SEC’s best pocket passer running a “well-conceived” offense – again, Johnson’s words – that averages just under 300 passing yards a game.
And the Gamecocks’ highest-energy player has had his arm in a sling all week.
USC has plenty of capable defensive players besides Matthews. The talents of linebacker Eric Norwood need no further rehashing, and defensive backs old (Darian Stewart) and young (Stephon Gilmore, C.C. Whitlock, Akeem Auguste) have helped the Gamecocks maintain the nation’s third-ranked pass defense.
But you’d feel a lot better as a Gamecock fan knowing Matthews would be screaming off the edge Saturday at Ryan Mallett, or chasing down a ball-carrier on the opposite side of the field with his short-cropped hair on fire.
But Matthews is out until at least the Clemson game, so it will fall on other players to take a stand Saturday – namely, Stephen Garcia and the five big guys in front of him.
It says here the Gamecocks will need 30-plus points to win Saturday – a number certainly within reach given the Razorbacks’ struggles defending the pass. If an offensive line missing left tackle Jarriel King (post-concussion) can give Garcia time, the right-hander should have a big day.
If the Gamecocks’ defense can contribute a score or at least shorten the field by forcing a turnover in Hog territory, all the better.
But will it be enough?
The lead-up to this game feels like the Gamecocks’ 2007 trip to Arkansas. As is the case this year, USC’s ’07 defense was beginning to wear down by the first week in November, with injuries to a couple of key players (cornerback Captain Munnerlyn made it only a couple of snaps that night before sitting down with a foot injury).
What transpired was an SEC record-tying performance by Darren McFadden, who gashed the Gamecocks for an incredible 323 rushing yards in the Hogs’ 48-36 victory.
The Razorbacks won’t have a 300-yard rusher this year. But they might have a 300-yard passer.
Arkansas 31, USC 27
22 Comments to “Gameday forecast for Arkansas”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
Joe, I have a suggestion on what you can do with that nutcracker!
Pretty fair assessment. I a disagree through. I think Devin Taylor and Geathers will be able to get to Mallet. The secondary will still be solid enough. Arkansas missing RB Smith will help too. Garcia will score against that weak secondary – Gamecocks 34-Ark 21.
Actually Smith is playing. He’s full speed. And Arkansas will win IF they have success running the ball. We will win if they don’t. Plain and simple.
We will not have the turnovers we had last week. Yes Arky is trying to become bowl eligible but we are trying to prove that we are not in our usual season ending slide.
USC 24 – arky 21
i think that the loss of culliver wont be as big as some people think. Garcia will have a career day and CArolina will finaly have atleast 20 points by halftime. Mallet will alson have atleast 2 picks.
Carolina-38
Arkansas-31
It is going to be hard to pick the Gamecocks to win very often after games like last week. Mattews is a big loss on defense. Spurrier talks about wanting a 42-38 type score and this could be his week for it. This game will serve as a huge turning point in the season for better or worse. 35-31 USC (only because I’m trying to be optimistic).
Awesome! You picked us to lose, so that means we win (since you are never right). Thanks for the good luck charm!
Who cares about predictions… let’s play some football.
BlackMagic84, I agree. While I think the Gamecocks may put a few more points on the board, I see Arkansas winning comfortably.
Will the USC vs. Arkansas game be televied? If so, where?
The forecast is sunny and temp in the 70’s. If USC committs two turnovers or less they should easily win.
Arkansas has the worst passing d in the conference, the worst total d also. You should expect a 300 yard 4TD game from Garcia.
we couldn’t score 30 pts. against the air!!
Ummm Joe… if you pick arkie to win by that much… you are crazy man lol. btw isn’t blackmagic84 now considered a tater? also Garcia will have a prolific passing day against this horrible pass D of arkie… btw the send off has done more for the player’s today than most think… look for a HUNGRY HUNGRY SOUTH CAROLINA TEAM come tomorrow at noon.
I think this is going to be a breakout game for some of the younger backups that have been hungry for their chance to shine….this is where they do it. Devin Taylor, Geathers, and Norwood Harass Mallet all day long and Garcia has another 300 yd passing game….Receivers come up with the ball and hold onto it like the last bread in the basket…..Cocks win 31-21
WELL, ONCE AGAIN I LOOK FOR THE BIGGEST IDIOT IN THE GROUP, AND AS SURE AS THE SUN WILL RISE, IT IS BLACKMAGIC84! HE WINS DUMBASS OF THE WEEK, YET AGAIN. HOW DOES HE DO IT?
REGISTER NOW, TO VOTE BLACKMAGIC84 IMBECILE OF THE YEAR! HE’S A LOCK!
GAMECOCKS 42-27
Gamecocks 31 Hogs 17
Carolina has good individual player talent, equal to any team in the SEC with the exception of a one or two studs on both the interior O and D lines, but their game plans, coaching schemes on both sides of the ball, play calling, internal game adjustments, matchups, and talent utilization is killing them.
Having said that, at the college level, individual athletic talent and innovativeness stands out (witness Oregon’s QB recent play, Ingram at ‘Bama, etc.). It may be time to start working Gilmore into the game plan at QB and a wildcat set of plays, giving him the opportunity to innovate…though Garcia has some mobility, it is not as dynamic as Gilmore’s.
gamecocks are not going for the 8-4 record this year but 7-5 or 6-6 will be their fate. The team needs to start searching for a new head coach because spurrier can not coach anymore for this team. It is time for a young coach and new young coaching staff that will put the fear of God in their players that give any team hell on the football field.
hey BLAHBLAH7…who’s the idiot now????? You, sir (or missus) are the fool!!! What’s it like to run your mouth and then turn out to be such a ignoramus?!? Week after week! Okay, go crawl back into your crib…it’s nap time, retard!
listen up chickenhead idiots, Blackmagic couldn’t be a “tater”, because then he wouldn’t have given USC’s offense and defens ethat much credit. You morons wish the score was only 31-17.
What time is the big pep rally this week, Gamecock club members? Or is that only for away games? Do you have an open date?
THANKS! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contests. Keep up the good work