Tennessee averages 4.5 yards per carry and has given up just eight sacks. Carolina averages 4.0 per carry and has allowed 23 sacks.
SC's Stephen Garcia has a passer-efficiency rating of 128.4, UT's Jonathan Crompton 128.2. Crompton has 14 TDs and 10 interceptions, Garcia 11 TDs and 4 interceptions. Too close to call.
The Vols' Montario Hardesty is having a stellar senior year but the Cocks' Kenny Miles had 100-yard efforts against Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
With Moe Brown healthy, he and Alshon Jeffery give SC two quality targets. UT has two quality targets in Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore. It's a push.
Nose tackle Dan Williams has been playing superbly for Tennessee. Meanwhile, Carolina's Cliff Matthews is slowed by a concussion and might not play.
Both teams are solid in this area but Gamecock weakside backer Eric Norwood might be the finest defensive player in the entire conference. He leads the league in sacks.
South Carolina and Tennessee rank 2-3 among SEC teams in pass defense. Both teams have excellent speed and talent in the secondary.
Both teams are mediocre but SC kicker Spencer Lanning is having a big year. He missed his first field goal try, then hit 12 straight before missing again. Conversely, UT kicker Daniel Lincoln is hampered by a pulled quadriceps muscle.
Tennessee is coming off strong showings against Georgia and Alabama, plus playing at home. Carolina had to come from behind to nip Vanderbilt last weekend.
If Tennessee plays anywhere near as well as it did vs. Georgia and Alabama the past two weeks it should be able to win this game.
