Coastal Carolina University proved it is not ready for primetime football this past Saturday. They were spanked by a USC Gamecock squad that is ranked at the bottom of their division in the Southeastern Conference.
USC won the game 51 to 7.
The destruction of a top school in the Sunbelt does not automatically guarantee a victory for the Gamecocks over their ACC opponent, Clemson, this Saturday.
Clemson is a slight favorite over South Carolina, with odds varying by sportsbook but generally showing Clemson as a 1.5 to 2.5-point favorite.
While Coastal was being destroyed by USC, their Sunbelt Rival, James Madison beat Washington State of the Pac-12 Conference.
James Madison holds a substantial advantage against Coastal Carolina, reflected in the betting lines where JMU is a considerable point-spread favorite and Coastal Carolina is seen as a strong moneyline underdog. In the matchup scheduled for November 29th, James Madison is favored by roughly 21.5 to 22.5 points.
1st Half Coastal vs USC Summary
South Carolina won the toss and elected to receive to start the game, and start they did with an electric one play 75-yard TD connection from L. Sellers to J. Sellers.
After a Coastal punt, the Gamecocks drive the ball down the field 74 yards on 6 plays, but failed the two-point conversion, to go up 13-0 with 9 min remaining in the 1st quarter.
South Carolina forces a T. Hudson fumble on Coastal’s second drive of the game to give their offense the ball back at the CCU 29-yard line. Resulting in another TD for the Gamecocks to put them up 20-0 with 7:27 left in the first quarter.
After a couple of back-and-forth drives by both teams resulting in punts, the Gamecocks put up another score with a short 3-yard TD pass from Sellers to D. Murph to put USC up 27-0 with 9 min remaining before the half.
After another Coastal 3 and out, USC mounts another scoring drive. This one a 5-play 80-yard drive, capped off by a 5-yard TD scamper by Sellers. 34-0 USC lead with 5 min left before the half.
After a missed FG attempt by Coastal, USC takes possession at their own 39 and drives the field to kick a 47-yard FG of their own as time expires to head into the half with a 37-0 lead.
2nd Half Summary
After a turnover on a redzone 4th down conversion attempt by the Chanticleers, SC scores after a 13 play 83-yard TD drive. Topped off by a 1 yard rush up the middle by TE B. Hunt to put the Gamecocks up 44-0.
Coastal finally gets on the board in the 4th quarter after a 17-yard blocked punt return by T. Jameson to make it 44-7 with 9:37 remaining in the game.
SC answered with another score as they drain the clock in the 4th quarter with a 7:30 minute drive topped off by a 1-yard B. Dunn rush up the middle to put the Gamecocks up 51-7 with less than 2 min to go in the game.
Game Summary & Key Takeaways
South Carolina took the field Saturday with the edge of a team still stinging from last week’s heartbreak at Texas A&M, and they played like it.
The Gamecocks unleashed 37 unanswered points in a dominant first half, including a quick 20 point run in the opening 3 possessions of the game.
Despite a disappointing 3-7 campaign marked by just one conference win; Shane Beamer’s squad is clearly refusing to fold. South Carolina’s urgency and emotion were on full display, and they’ll need every bit of that energy as they prepare for their regular-season finale: a Palmetto Bowl showdown with in-state rival Clemson.
Kickoff is set for noon EST in Columbia, on SECN.
Don’t let the 51-7 final fool you, Coastal Carolina is clearly not ready to take on SEC power conference schools.
The Chanticleers, now 6-5 (5-2 Sun Belt), have quietly pieced together a strong season under head coach Tim Beck, however.
Coastal sits tied with Old Dominion for second place in the Sun Belt and still control a path to statement finish.
Their chance comes next Saturday in Conway, where they’ll host conference leader James Madison at 3:45 p.m. EST on ESPNU, a matchup that will define the Sun Belt race.
