The 2-1 South Carolina football team will look to rebound against Louisiana Tech after a tough home loss to Kentucky last Saturday.
The Gamecocks come into this matchup only having faced Lousiana Tech five times in program history, the most recent matchup coming in 1995 when the Gamecocks won, 68-21. It should be interesting to see how the preparation of both teams play out on Saturday, as they are unknown opponents.
What to watch: Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs are a part of Conference USA, a conference including Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, Southern Miss, Old Dominion, Marshall and more. Last season, they made it to the Conference USA Championship, but lost to Western Kentucky. Perhaps their biggest victory last season came against Navy in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
This season, Louisiana Tech comes in with wins against Northwestern State and Western Kentucky, but a loss to Mississippi State. While they are from a smaller school than South Carolina, the Bulldogs are no slouch on the gridiron. Expect them to come into Williams-Brice Stadium eager to get another crack at an SEC opponent.
Louisiana Tech has some playmakers on offense, starting with quarterback J’Mar Smith, who has thrown for 722 yards and three touchdowns this season. Smith has a ton of weapons on the outside, including Rhashid Bonnette, Teddy Veal and Marcus Gaines, who have each accumulated more than 100 receiving yards three games into the season. Running back Jarred Craft has also looked strong, gaining 248 yards on 48 carries with two touchdowns. Look out for the Bulldogs' offensive weapons, which could deliver explosive plays against South Carolina’s bend-don't-break style defense.
On the defensive side of the ball, the player to watch is junior defensive end Jaylon Ferguson. Ferguson set the single season sack record for the Bulldogs with 14.5 sacks last season. With Bentley being sacked twice against Kentucky, Ferguson is a presence the Gamecocks' offensive line should watch out for.
What to watch: South Carolina
It's going to be interesting to see how the Gamecocks respond on offense after losing two starters in Week 3, including playmaker wide receiver Deebo Samuel and right tackle Zack Bailey. Samuel, who had tallied six touchdowns in three games, fractured his fibula in his lower left leg, while Bailey, the Gamecocks' most reliable offensive lineman, has a high ankle sprain. These are big losses on the offensive side of the ball for the Gamecocks, who amassed a season-low 13 points against Kentucky.
Keep an eye on how South Carolina bounces back from its first loss of the season. Will the Gamecocks keep their composure and come out firing against the Bulldogs? Or will they crumble? It will be important for the players to come out with a sense of urgency this week.
Both teams are in unfamiliar territory with this matchup, facing each other for the first time in more than 20 years.