As I write this just before 8 a.m., it's a pleasant morning in the South Carolina state capital but the forecast calls for a hot, humid day with temperatures nearing 90 degrees.  Not good for a Kentucky team that is short on depth today but SC has several players out or ailing, too.

 

DT Corey Peters says Williams-Brice Stadium has provided the most hostile atmosphere in which to play during his time with the Cats  (go to The Leach Report to see his interview in the Saturday links section) but it may be a little less so today.  Why?  At last report, there were about 13,000 unsold tickets and it's fall break week at USC so the student turnout may well be low.

 

For Kentucky, the list of keys start with winning the turnover battle, something the Cats have rarely done during this 9-game losing streak in the SC series.  Also, they need to run the ball like they did last week.  Do that and you lessen the pressure on Mike Hartline to face third-and-longs against maybe the best pass rush in the SEC.  The Gamecocks are very faster but not all that big and they've been sometimes vulnerable up the middle, so Moncell Allen might be a key, too, to help Derrick Locke in running it between the tackles--I don't think you'll see much of Alfonso Smith because of that thumb injury.

 

After seeing his QBs throw 27 picks last season, Steve Spurrier seems to be playing it a little more conservatively this season and Stephen Garcia has responded to it well.  Kentucky has to make sure they contain him as his scrammbling hurt the Cats last season and to win, UK has to get him in a lot of third-and-long situations when mistakes are more likely to happen.

 

You can bet Spurrier will test those new corners, in particular freshman Martavious Neloms.  But Neloms had 14 picks in the two seasons of high school football that he played, including a state of Tennessee-best eight of them as a senior.  Perhaps Neloms will be up to the challenge.

@ South Carolina
Saturday / 6pm eastern
listen on UK-IMG Sports Network
See full schedule