In another game in the SEC gauntlet, Florida and their new #2 BCS ranking take on South Carolina at home.

Any time Steve Spurrier returns to Gainesville it's bound to be a special night. And the last time he was there, he led the Gamecocks to a 36-14 trouncing of Urban Meyer's last team at Florida.

But, this is a different Florida team and it's definitely a different South Carolina squad.  RB Marcus Lattimore may be out of this one with a hip injury, putting a ton of pressure on QB Connor Shaw and the rest of the Gamecock offense.

That formula didn't quite work out in Baton Rouge last week in South Carolina's first loss of the year.  Florida, on the other hand, continues to get better and QB Jeff Driskel looks more and more like Emmitt Smith.  Yes, I know he's a quarterback.  Duh.

Keys to a South Carolina win

1. Don't get beat by the zone read - Be disciplined enough to not let Driskel "hit it" downhill as he did at Vandy last week.
2. Put Florida's offense in 3rd down repeatedly, then GET THE HECK OFF THE FIELD! (LSU was 11 of 19 on 3rd down against the Gamecocks).
3. With no Lattimore, mix up the "run game" touches - Kenny Miles, Shaw, Bruce Ellington and even Ace Sanders on jet/speed sweeps.
4. Win the second half - Florida has dominated the second half in every game its played.
5. Wear better pants.

South Carolina Players to Watch

1. #47 LB Reginald Bowens - Loved the way he ran to the ball against LSU, will be on the spot often in this one.
2. #36 S D.J Swearinger - Hard hitter, doesn't always tackle well, but he must against Florida ball carriers.
3. #87 TE Justice Cunningham - He blocks, he can catch and he can catch it deep down the seam or sideline.

Keys to a Florida win

1. Get a hat on a hat early and occupy Jadeveon Clowney on the edge…might take one, two or three blockers, but it's worth it.
2. It's a Mike Gillislee game - Don't be afraid to keep handing it to him when the OL finds a rhythm eventually.
3. Cutback, misdirection, and zone read them to death - Don't let USC's front seven hone in on easy read to play fast and downhill.
4. Keep it close in the first half and "do what you do" in the second.
5. Attack the edges with DE Lerentee McCray, in particular, on South Carolina's tackles - That's where Florida can change the game.

Florida Players to Watch

1. #1 LB Jonathan Bostic - Must be kept clean to sprint to the ball unabated.
2. #73 DT Sharrif Floyd - It's time he completely dominate the middle as his enormous talent dictates.
3. #11 TE Jordan Reed - His ability to flex out and get matched up on safety in space is a key.

Conclusion

Down deep, I really like this South Carolina squad... When Shaw makes smart reads.  When the defense attacks, doesn't sit back.  When Ace Sanders "wins" on special teams returns.

But, the USC squad that got rolled by a patchwork LSU offensive line wasn't nearly the one that took Georgia out behind the woodshed.  Georgia isn't Florida…unfortunately.  Florida is relentless.

It doesn't do anything exceptionally well other than beat the heck out of you at the line of scrimmage.  Sometimes it takes the first 30 minutes to break through and the other 30 minutes to roll right on through.  But, in every game this year, that's happened.

It's another one that will stay tight and leave some bumps and bruises on everyone who takes a snap on Saturday.  But, in the end, the Gators will ride Gillislee on the ground and one key Driskel completion through the air in a hard fought SEC East victory.

Florida - 19 vs. South Carolina - 16