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Gators Ready To Face Gamecocks' Tough D

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By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: November 15, 2008

Updated: 11/15/2008 12:16 am

GAINESVILLE - South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier figures he has been there, done that, so today's second return to Florida Field, where his No. 24-ranked Gamecocks meet the title-chasing No. 4 Gators, is a non-story.

"I don't think it will be a big deal," Spurrier said. "It will just be the Gamecocks against the Gators."

Gators coach Urban Meyer, although praising the Ol' Ball Coach's place in Florida history, suggested it is unlikely his players have more than a passing interest in Spurrier's orange and blue past.

"They are about the present and the future," Meyer said.

All the same, for today's nationally televised SEC meeting it might behoove the 21-point favorite Gators (8-1, 6-1 SEC) to take a historic perspective. That is because no one should know better than Florida the havoc Spurrier is capable of creating.

It almost happened two years ago when he came back to The Swamp for the first time as an opposing coach and came thisclose to wrecking the Gators' national championship drive.

The Gators held on for a 17-16 victory, thanks to a blocked field goal with eight seconds left.

If that does not put Florida, with its place in the SEC Championship Game already secured, sufficiently on guard, there always is Spurrier's record of 122-27-1 from 1990-2001 at Florida with the 1996 national championship and six SEC titles.

"Coach Spurrier is one of the great coaches in all of college football history," Meyer said this week. "I admire Bo Schembechler; I admire Woody Hayes; I admire winners that do it the right way. So you're darn right that I admire Steve Spurrier. However, he is the coach of the opposing team, and we're going to have a great football game."

Although the Gators might prefer continuing the five-game streak of outscoring opponents 243-57 as opposed to a memorable showdown, either result seems possible.

The Gamecocks (7-3, 4-3) have earned their success with a most un-Spurrier-like approach - an offense that has struggled but a defense that ranks No. 1 in the SEC by allowing an average of 256 yards per game. No opponent has scored more than 24 this season.

Florida, on the other hand, is averaging 42.8 per game with quarterback Tim Tebow and go-to playmakers running at full stride, and special teams blocking kicks and busting big returns.

"Well, we don't put up a whole bunch of points," Spurrier said. "We hope our defense doesn't give up a whole bunch. But we also hope our special teams and defense doesn't give them anything. That's not easy right there. Special teams-wise, Florida may be the best in the country. Then there's their offense, which is very good, too."

As a whole, the Gators have been so impressive in recent weeks that their bandwagon is filling up with all degrees of experts predicting a BCS Championship Game appearance.

With the SEC Eastern division title and a place in the conference championship game against Alabama clinched, there is reason to fear a drop-off from the high level of recent weeks.

Meyer believes South Carolina provides the necessary motivation.

"The film of the team we are playing," Meyer answered when asked what he would use as inspiration. "It's the best team Coach has had up there. The best defense in the SEC - and they are."

Just the Gamecocks against the Gators.

AT STAKE

Florida already has reserved its place in the SEC Championship Game, but national title hopes are on the line. The Gators must keep winning - preferably in impressive manner - to feed the BCS monster, and guarantee a first or second ranking in the final poll.

South Carolina is hoping to improve its bowl standings, and, well, the Legend that is Steve Spurrier will somehow in some way come into play.

KEY MATCHUPS

The classic "Offense vs. Defense" is the pregame story line. Florida's offense leads the SEC in scoring with 42.8 points per game and is second in total yards, 407 per game.

South Carolina ranks as the SEC's No. 1 defense in yards allowed per game (256.5), and is third in points allowed (15.6).

KEY STAT

Florida's plus-13 turnover margin is fourth nationally. Only four of Florida nine opponents started a drive in Gators' territory. UF has started 23 drives in opponent territory and scored 19 times.

KEEP AN EYE ON

The Gamecocks' two-headed quarterback - sound familiar?

Sophomore Chris Smelley and freshman Stephen Garcia, the former Jefferson star, are expected to share time, just the way Spurrier did it at Florida a number of years ago.

The USC offense has been extremely disappointing to Spurrier this season, and must find a way to score points against Florida's improving defense to have any hope of pulling the upset.

INJURY REPORT

SOUTH CAROLINA - No significant injuries reported.

FLORIDA - OL Jim Tartt (shoulder) and OL Carl Johnson (knee) are probable.

PREDICTION

Florida 35, South Carolina 9

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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