South Carolina Football aiming to build off last season’s success

Schedule and Predictions

South Carolina football heads into the 2022 season with momentum and expectations the offense will be better than a year ago. The defense should also be solid and not miss a step.

With Shane Beamer’s coaching star on the rise, the Gamecocks are poised to top their win total from a year ago and move up in the SEC standings.

• Game 1: Georgia State (W) – First meeting ever between the two programs. The Gamecocks are 16-2 all-time versus the Sun Belt.
• Game 2: at Arkansas (L) – South Carolina has won the last three in the series but this is not the same Arkansas team of the past. The Razorbacks are much improved under Sam Pittman.
• Game 3: Georgia (L) – The Bulldogs are still the top dog in the division and perhaps the conference. South Carolina will be hard-pressed to keep the pace in this one.
• Game 4: Charlotte (W) – Another first time meeting. It should be easier to get back to .500 after two consecutive losses.
• Game 5: South Carolina State (W) – Facing an FCS foe will be a much needed break before the rest of the SEC schedule.
• Game 6: at Kentucky (W) – The Wildcats have owned the Gamecocks as of late, winning the last seven of eight contests. South Carolina has not won in Lexington since 2013. However they are good for one upset per season and this will be it.
• Game 7: Texas A&M (L) – Since the first matchup in the series in 2014, the Aggies have won all eight. Look for the streak to extend to nine straight victories.
• Game 8: Missouri (W) – Tigers have won three straight but the last two have been decided by one score. Look for the Gamecocks to come out on top this season.
• Game 9: at Vanderbilt (W) – 13 straight wins for South Carolina but there have been some close contests, including last year’s one point win. Gamecocks make it 14 straight this year.
• Game 10: at Florida (W) – Gamecocks have not won in Gainesville since 2014 but that changes this year.
• Game 11: Tennessee (L) – Vols are on the upswing in the SEC. This will be a close battle with Tennessee on the winning end.
• Game 12: at Clemson (L) – At some point the streak against their biggest rival will end. 2022 is not that year.

Prediction: 7-5, 4-4 SEC

The non conference slate besides Clemson should be pretty manageable for the Gamecocks. Going 3-1 there is a must. South Carolina gets a tough draw from the SEC West in Texas A&M and Arkansas. There no easy weeks in the SEC.

Notching seven wins in the regular season is not a huge improvement over last season but statistically the Gamecocks should be better. Road victories over Kentucky and Florida will look good. Besides Georgia and Clemson, the Gamecocks should put up a fight in every contest.

This is a decent team and the Gamecocks should have a chance to get to eight wins in a bowl game. Beamer is building something exciting in Columbia.