First-time underdogs: Stakes raised for No. 10 USC, which travels to No. 8 Arkansas

  • Gene Sapakoff
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  • Posted: Monday, October 31, 2011 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Friday, March 23, 2012 8:57 p.m.
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South Carolina freshman Brandon Wilds rushed for 137 yards against Tennessee in his first collegiate start on Saturday night.
/FileSouth Carolina freshman Brandon Wilds rushed for 137 yards against Tennessee in his first collegiate start on Saturday night.

Six straight road victories for South Carolina, two more than the previous school record.

"It just says some new things are happening here at South Carolina football, that's all it says," head coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday. "Beating Tennessee back-to-back for the first time in school history … I mean, there's all kinds of firsts that were available, that's what makes the job so much fun for me and our coaches is that almost every week we can achieve something that's never happened before."

And a 2011 first this week: No. 10 South Carolina is an underdog for the first time all season, and facing a critical game at No. 8 Arkansas. The Gamecocks (7-1, 5-1 SEC) are coming off a 14-3 victory Saturday night at Tennessee and are tied with Georgia (6-2, 5-1) in their quest to win a second consecutive SEC East title.

Remaining SEC games for South Carolina: Saturday at Arkansas, Nov. 12 vs. Florida.

For Georgia: Nov. 12 vs. Auburn, Nov. 19 vs. Kentucky.

"It's really sort of fun that there is no room for error," Spurrier said.

The winning formula for USC in Knoxville, Tenn., was freshman tailback Brandon Wilds filling in nicely for injured Marcus Lattimore, and quarterback Connor Shaw continuing his gradual progress within a conservative game plan. The Gamecocks at Arkansas might need another big game from Wilds (137 yards on 28 carries), another near-shutout from a much-improved defense and added protection for Shaw.

"We have to pass block a lot better," Spurrier said. "Our tackles have got to give (Shaw) a chance to throw the ball. … When you go back and get sacked a couple times, it's hard to keep calling pass plays."

He said there were no serious injuries in the Tennessee game and that Wildcat quarterback/slot receiver Bruce Ellington "should be 100 percent" for the Arkansas trip. Ellington, a sophomore from Berkeley High School, suffered a pulled hamstring in practice last week and saw limited action at Tennessee.

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