Two of the SEC’s more intriguing teams meet Saturday afternoon in Norman when South Carolina visits Oklahoma in a matchup that could go a long way toward determining the direction of both programs’ seasons.
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The Gamecocks arrive with considerable momentum after consecutive victories over ranked opponents. Oklahoma, meanwhile, is attempting to build on last weekend’s road victory at Mississippi State.
Both teams enter the contest with 4-3 overall records, although their recent performances tell considerably different stories.
South Carolina has become one of the more dangerous teams in the conference.
Two weeks ago, the Gamecocks defeated Florida in Gainesville. Last Saturday, they followed that performance with a dramatic 27-24 victory over Tennessee, winning on a 48-yard field goal by Malik Orsan as time expired.
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers was instrumental in that victory. His ability to create opportunities with both his arm and his legs kept Tennessee’s defense under pressure throughout the contest.
Sellers has thrown for 1,548 yards with 13 touchdown passes and five interceptions this season. He also provides a significant rushing threat, making him particularly difficult to defend when passing plays break down.
Running back Matthew Fuller gives South Carolina another productive offensive option. Fuller has accumulated 513 rushing yards and five touchdowns, providing balance to an attack that otherwise relies heavily on Sellers.
Oklahoma presents a different challenge.
The Sooners defeated Mississippi State 23-15 last weekend behind quarterback John Mateer, who completed 22 of 29 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
Mateer has thrown for 1,591 yards this season, while wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III has emerged as his primary receiving threat with 578 yards.
The Sooners accumulated 184 rushing yards against Mississippi State, an encouraging development for an offense that needs to avoid depending exclusively on its quarterback.
Oklahoma’s defense may be the biggest obstacle facing South Carolina.
The Sooners have been particularly effective against the run and have demonstrated an ability to prevent opponents from converting red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.
That will be important against Sellers, whose scrambling ability often turns potential losses into substantial gains.
Oklahoma must maintain disciplined defensive assignments. Aggressive pass rushing can create opportunities for Sellers to escape containment, and allowing him to operate in open space would be dangerous.
South Carolina’s defense faces its own challenges.
Mateer possesses the arm strength and mobility to create explosive plays, particularly when defenses overcommit to stopping the running game.
However, Oklahoma has struggled with turnovers. The Sooners enter the game with a minus-seven turnover margin, a potentially significant weakness against a South Carolina defense that has produced timely takeaways.
Home-field advantage favors Oklahoma, but South Carolina’s confidence is growing.
The Gamecocks have demonstrated that they can defeat quality opponents away from Columbia. Their victory at Florida was particularly significant because it proved they could handle an intimidating SEC road environment.
Oklahoma needs to establish control early and avoid allowing Sellers to dictate the pace.
This matchup could come down to the final possession, with both quarterbacks capable of producing a dramatic late scoring drive.
I’m giving South Carolina a slight advantage because of its recent performances against ranked opponents and Sellers’ ability to improvise when conventional plays break down.
16Powers Prediction: South Carolina 27, Oklahoma 24
