PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Rico Dowdle led a resurgent rushing game by leading South Carolina with 112 yards on 20 carries. It was his second 100-yard effort of the season. Dowdle will be up against a Kentucky defense that shut down Mississippi State to only 56 rushing yards last week.
–WR Shi Smith had a career-high 119 receiving yards on five catches in the win over Vanderbilt. Included was a 38-yard reception for a touchdown, his first of the season, and a 52-yard reception. The sophomore needs to duplicate that effort to take some of the pressure off veteran Deebo Samuel.
–DT Javon Kinlaw had a big role in the win over Vanderbilt and now faces a prolific Kentucky running game led by RB Benny Snell. Kinlaw had three tackles for loss among his five for the game against the Commodores and also forced two fumbles and broke up a pass.
–LB T.J. Brunson will be another key figure in South Carolina’s attempt to corral Snell. Brunson is South Carolina’s leading tackler with 15 stops, 13 of them solo efforts.
SERIES HISTORY: South Carolina leads the series with Kentucky 17-11-1, but will be looking to end a four-game losing streak in the series. The Wildcats won 23-13 last year.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We haven’t talked about it. It’s the 2018 South Carolina football team versus the 2018 Kentucky football team.” — Coach Will Muschamp, asked about the Gamecocks’ losing streak in the series with Kentucky.
