The Gamecocks have never played in an SEC championship game but suddenly find themselves leading a watered-down East division. For a coach whose team represented the East in seven SEC title tilts while at Florida, Spurrier sees an excellent opportunity.
"If there's a year for us to win the East, it's when the East is down a little bit," he said.
"We know one big win doesn't make a season. ... If we can go on from here and become a real solid team, maybe we can look back and say this is a big one."
Visits to Kentucky (3-3, 0-3) and sub-.500 Vanderbilt are next, and while neither foe has impressed thus far, the Gamecocks typically have trouble when they leave Columbia. South Carolina has lost six consecutive conference road games since its last visit to Lexington -- a 24-17 win Oct. 11, 2008.
The Wildcats may be the one team the Gamecocks feel comfortable facing regardless of location. Three Garcia-to-Alshon Jeffrey touchdowns in last season's 28-26 victory in Columbia extended South Carolina's winning streak over Kentucky to 10.:scared
Spurrier's personal 17-0 record against the Wildcats includes 12 wins during his years in Gainesville.:SIB
That streak started before the 19-year-old Lattimore was born, not that he expects it -- or his team's big win last week -- to matter at all Saturday.
"They probably think that we are going to be sitting high because we beat Alabama, but that is not going to be the case," said Lattimore, the nation's third-leading rusher (459 yards) among true freshmen. "We are going to be ready for them."
Lattimore leads the SEC in carries per game (21.4) and should get plenty Saturday against a Kentucky run defense ranked 97th nationally, yielding 190.3 yards per contest.:scared :scared
It was the Wildcats' ninth conference loss since 2008 that came by a touchdown or less.
"I think this team definitely has confidence, and they (feel they) can play with anybody in this league," first-year coach Joker Phillips said.
While the Gamecocks' struggles in recent years have come on the road, most of Kentucky's recent woes have come at home. The Wildcats have lost seven consecutive SEC games at Commonwealth Stadium.
That could be far more difficult if Derrick Locke can't play Saturday. The senior, who has four 100-yard rushing games and seven touchdowns, is doubtful with stingers in both shoulders.
Sophomore Donald Russell will get the start if Locke can't go.
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Just too much for Kentucky to overcome in this game.
Lattimore alone is going to make them huff and puff in the third quarter. Hands on hips Kentucky lineman.
Lattimore made Alabama looks like clowns all game. Kentucky will not match up to this onslot of elbows and knees coming at them from all angles.
