Game Week: South Carolina

After a heartbreaking loss last week to Alabama, Tennessee got back on track, winning the second part of their two game road trip, 52-21 over Kentucky.

Tennessee absolutely dominated every aspect of the game, putting together a performance that could set the stage for a dominant end to the 2015 season.

The Vols currently sit at 4-4 (2-3 SEC), and should be favored in their remaining four games against South Carolina, North Texas, Missouri, and Vanderbilt.

The quest to finish the regular season 8-4 will continue this Saturday against South Carolina, who has had a significant drop off after being a fixture in the top of the SEC East for several seasons.

Here’s a look at this season’s Vols-Gamecocks matchup:

South Carolina Gamecocks at Tennessee Volunteers

Game Information

Kickoff: Saturday at 4 PM EST

TV: SEC Network

Line: Tennessee by 16

Venue: Neyland Stadium (Capacity 102,455)

Last Meeting: Tennessee 45, South Carolina 42 (OT) (11/1/14)

South Carolina Gamecocks (3-5, 1-5 SEC)

Interim Head Coach: Shawn Elliot (Tennessee will be third game as interim coach)

Co-Offensive Coordinators: Shawn Elliot, Steve Spurrier Jr.

Co-Defensive Coordinators: Lorenzo Ward, Jon Hoke

2015 Season Notes

- Picked by media to finish 4th in SEC East in preseason.

- Offseason quarterback competition between Connor Mitch (RS So.), Michael Scarnecchia (RS Fr.), Perry Orth (RS Jr.), Lorenzo Nunez (Fr.). Mitch initially won the job, but was injured during the Kentucky game and ruled out for the season. Orth started against Georgia, but was becnched following his poor performance. Nunez then started the next two games, but was injured in the Missouri game, forcing Orth back into action. Orth has started the past three games.

- Steve Spurrier announced his resignation from coaching the Gamecocks after the LSU game, offensive line coach Shawn Elliot was named interim coach. Elliot is 1-1, with a win over Vanderbilt and a loss to Texas A&M.

South Carolina player to watch:

Pharoh Cooper, wide receiver

Tennessee fans will not have trouble remembering Pharoh Cooper, who had a career performance against the Vols last season.

Cooper caught 11 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, rushed three times for 23 yards and a touchdown, and even threw once for a 36-yard touchdown.

So far this season, Cooper has 44 receptions for 609 yards and four scores.

Cooper has still been South Carolina’s most effective weapon this season, but his production has been hurt by inconsistency at the quarterback position.

Tennessee will be a bit short handed in the secondary for the first half of Saturday’s game as Emmanuel Moseley was suspended for a targeting penalty in the second half of the win over Kentucky, but Cooper likely won’t duplicate his output from last season’s game.

#gameweek #southcarolina