South Carolina football is hosting the No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium after the team had a bye week. The Gamecocks will be looking to overcome the Rebels, who are looking to recover from a 20-17 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats on Sept. 28.
The Daily Gamecock spoke with Teddy King, the sports editor of Ole Miss' student newspaper, The Daily Mississippian, to discuss the upcoming matchup between the Gamecocks and Rebels. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Daily Gamecock: What are your thoughts on the Ole Miss team at this point in the season?
King: “I think everyone going into this week (against Kentucky), it was kind of supposed to be a game that Ole Miss was kind of supposed to win ... We’re playing Georgia at home, we're playing at LSU, we're playing at South Carolina, and these are some big games that Ole Miss has to capitalize on.
"... And I think this game was just one of those (automatic games). Our defense looked really good, but our offense did not look great ... That final field goal we missed was kind of a wake-up call of, ‘Wow, okay, that wasn’t supposed to happen' ... I think we have a lot to work on as a team if we want to be a playoff contender.”
What is your biggest concern with the Rebels ahead of the team's matchup with the Gamecocks?
“(Ole Miss) was supposed to stay in the top 10 (on the AP Poll) all the way throughout the season, hopefully only be a one-loss team up until Georgia, if not undefeated. I think our biggest concern is kind of just keeping our head on our shoulders, and wiping away all of the hype and being like, ‘Oh, we’re going to go into this game because we’re the higher ranked opponent.’
"If they want to compete with teams like this, they have to do the work, and they have to put in the work and again ... it’s the SEC ... This is no joke ... So I think our biggest concern is kind of just the team as whole and just kind looking at our next opponent, ‘What do we need to work on?’”
How has senior wide receiver Antwane "Juice" Wells Jr. made an impact for you guys? How does Ole Miss view this relationship after Wells left South Carolina in the off-season?
“I’m going to say personally, losing (Ohio State junior running back Quinshon) Judkins was heartbreak in Oxford ... (Ole Miss had) an unbelievably good offense, and not saying they aren’t now, but with the addition of Juice, he’s taken over those shoes ... and I think he’s really filled in that spot well.
"I don’t think (South Carolina is) going to boo him, but the tensions are going to be high ... (Ole Miss) didn’t perform like a top-six team on Saturday, but I think Juice (will choose to) block out what people are going to say in Columbia and just focus on the Rebels ... I understand that tensions are going to be high. It’s going to be a good game, and we’ll see if he performs.”
What’s the vibe particularly about playing on the road against South Carolina, a place that is regularly considered one of the best home-field advantages in the country?
“I think it’s scary ... As scary as it is playing on the road, it’s a new environment ... Now terrifying, but it’s eye-opening again. You can't just be that good at home and then expect to be that good in another home environment ... It’s exciting, but it also has its scary components, like the way (South Carolina put up a fight) against LSU in (their) home stadium during a (noon) game ... But with great risk comes a reward, so (Ole Miss) has to perform to prove that (they) are that playoff team.”
Who is an under-the-radar player for the Rebels that South Carolina should look out for?
“I have been telling people recently, do not underestimate (redshirt senior tight end) Caden Prieskorn ... He was the offensive MVP in the Peach Bowl against a solid, solid Penn State team with a phenomenal defense ... He came into this team and was a Memphis transfer, and he was supposed to come in at quarterback, and then he shaped up to be a tight end and come into SEC play like, ‘I’m here.’ ... I think he’s a big offensive advantage that people don’t really look out for.”
Score prediction?
“I think it’s going to be close. I don’t think it’s going to be a blowout on either end ... I’m going to go 31-24 Ole Miss. I think (Ole Miss) will have big stops, but I don't think we'll have all the stops ... (South Carolina) will also have stops as well, so I think it’s going to be close.”