South Carolina football continues its home stand this Saturday by hosting the Charlotte 49ers.
The Gamecocks come into the game on the heels of his 48-7 loss to No. 1 Georgia. Charlotte is coming off its first victory with a 42-41 victory over Georgia State – a South Carolina team defeated earlier this season.
This will be the first time USC and Charlotte will meet.
South Carolina vs. Charlotte Match Info, TV
Who: Charlotte 49ers (1-3) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (1-2)
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Television: ESPNU
Flow: through the ESPN app
USC vs. Charlotte betting line
South Carolina is a 21.5-point favorite over the 49ers, according to Consensus line from VegasInsider.
Gamecocks try to break the losing streak
South Carolina has played back-to-back games against teams currently in the Associated Press Top 10losing both by multiple scores.
The Gamecocks lost to Arkansas on the road and Georgia at home, but they SEC game break to face the Conference USA 49ers.
Charlotte has struggled this year, despite picking up a win against a Georgia State team that gave South Carolina trouble in the first week. Still, the 49ers are just 1-3 overall.
Saturday presents an opportunity for USC to get back into the win column before facing another non-conference opponent, SC State, the following weekend.
Can Spencer Rattler get on the right track?
After three games, USC’s new starting quarterback hasn’t quite looked like his old, Heisman-confronting self.
Spencer Rattler threw five interceptions for just two touchdowns, with a success rate below 60%. The call for play has varied with each game, and the team is still experimenting with its new additions to the offseason roster.
He found consistency with 15 completions at Antwane Wells in early games. Against UGA, however, Wells recorded no takes.
The Gamecocks’ pass protection has also been criticized this season, with Rattler frequently moving outside the pocket. Some of those plays are intentional, although the defenses USC has played thus far may have gone into the backfield.
Charlotte finally gets a win
The 49ers narrowly avoided the start 0-4, beating Georgia State by one point.
The team picked up 401 meters in the air and 100 on the ground. Although he struggled defensively, he held on as wide receiver Grant DuBose scored a late touchdown to give the team a one-point lead.
Like USC, Charlotte is below .500 and needs a few wins. The team is 15-20 under head coach Will Healy, who took over in 2019.
Getting another win will be a daunting task against an SEC opponent, but both teams enter Saturday in dire need of wins.
Gamecocks and 49ers players to watch
Nick Emmanwori, DB, South Carolina: Emmanwori continues to be a bright spot for the Gamecocks defense, as he led the team in tackles against Georgia with 14. He’s also the team’s leading tackler for 2022, so his presence on defense could help. South Carolina against Charlotte.
Jalen Brooks, WR, South Carolina: Brooks is second on the team in yards and receptions, and has multiple catches in every game so far. His ability to find ways to open up gives USC options in an offense that is still uncovering itself.
Chris Reynolds, QB, Charlotte: Reynolds, a career high, threw for five touchdowns in Charlotte’s win over Georgia State. He’s been on the 49ers offense since 2018 and played through all four years of the Healy era.
Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte: Charlotte’s leader in catches and touchdowns, DuBose presents a legitimate threat to South Carolina. At 6-foot-3, he’s one of the team’s top targets. He finished last week’s game with nine catches for 85 yards and two scores.
