South Carolina vs. Missouri College Football Week 5 Preview, TV Schedule, Prediction

TV Schedule: Saturday, October 3, 12:00 p.m., ET, SEC Network

Stadium: Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.

Line: Mizzou (-4)

It’s hard to compete with South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier’s resume. He has a Heisman (1966), and he’s coached a Heisman winner (Danny Wuerffel in 1996). He is the winningest coach in both Florida and South Carolina history and even managed to coach Duke to their lone conference championship (1989).

Luckily for Missouri, they don’t have to play a squad with Spurrier under center, but they do have to play a Spurrier-led team. Either way, the Gamecocks won’t give Missouri much trouble.

South Carolina is 2-2 after barely surviving in Week 1 against North Carolina (17-13) and beating Central Florida handily in Week 4 (31-14). Their two losses have come against conference opponents Kentucky (26-22) and Georgia (52-20) in Weeks 2 and 3.

South Carolina will be looking to avenge last year’s matchup when an unranked Missouri beat No. 13-ranked South Carolina 21-20 on their home turf. In true (albeit recent) rivalry fashion, Missouri leads the all-time series 3-2, so the Gamecocks will be even more eager to even the series.

Missouri is coming off a rough week, suffering their first loss to Kentucky in a shocking upset (21-13) and dropping out of the top 25 for the first time this season. The Tigers need a win this week to bounce back from the Kentucky loss and keep their chances at a third-straight SEC East title alive.

Quarterback Maty Mauk is calm under pressure and has already passed for 654 yards this season. Mauk and Missouri’s spread offense will be no match for South Carolina’s 411 yards allowed per game. The Tigers averaged 23 points in their three wins; South Carolina’s defense allows 26.

Saturday’s matchup likely won’t be as close as the line predicts, regardless of South Carolina’s burning desire for revenge.

Prediction: Missouri 28, South Carolina 21

Hannah Fields is a Tennessee Titans and SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @hanfran7, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.