East Carolina @ South Carolina preview

East Carolina at South Carolina

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2012 ) East Carolina 10, South Carolina 48

South Carolina looks to get back on track after a disappointing season opener when the 21st-ranked Gamecocks host East Carolina for a non-conference clash on Saturday. The Gamecocks dropped 12 spots in the rankings after being trounced 52-28 by visiting Texas A&M and needs to improve dramatically before next week's SEC East showdown with Georgia. The Pirates, who crushed North Carolina Central 52-7 in their opener, are after their first win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 18 Houston in 2009.

South Carolina has won 15 consecutive games against non-conference opponents and 20 straight regular-season non-conference contests, and the Gamecocks haven't lost two straight to start a season since going 0-11 in 1999. "No one knows how a team really comes around to be," Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier told reporters. "Some teams are maybe not as good as advertised and some are better than advertised. It's a wait and see for us." The Gamecocks have been tough at home, where they had won a school-record 18 straight before last week's setback.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: South Carolina -16.5

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (1-0): The Pirates turned in a predictably dominant performance against N.C. Central, rolling up 582 total yards and allowing 174. Their balanced offensive attack is led by quarterback Shane Carden, who has a stable of talented running backs and receivers at his disposal. The defense wasn't really tested against the Eagles, but the 174 total yards were East Carolina's fewest allowed since 2000 and the Pirates did not allow an offensive touchdown for the first time since 2008.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (0-1): Quarterback Dylan Thompson had a big game against Texas A&M, passing for a career-high 366 yards and four touchdowns, but the Gamecocks will need more from the ground game to be successful. Star running back Mike Davis was limited to 15 yards on six carries against the Aggies before aggravating a rib injury, but he should be available against the Pirates. The Gamecocks' bigger concern is on defense, though, as they allowed school-record marks of 680 total yards and 511 passing yards against the Aggies.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Spurrier is seeking his 200th win as an SEC coach and his 50th home win at South Carolina.

2. The Pirates have won 15 straight games when rushing for 200 or more yards.

3. Thompson started in place of injured Connor Shaw in the last meeting in 2012 and passed for 330 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-10 South Carolina victory.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 37, East Carolina 24