The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — No. 21 Texas A&M (0-0) at No. 9 South Carolina (0-0), 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
Line: South Carolina by 10½.
Series Record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
A strong start to the Southeastern Conference season. The Gamecocks were picked this summer as favorites to win the SEC’s Eastern Division and nothing would mark them as a title contender than a victory over Texas A&M, which has gone 10-6 its first two conference seasons. The Aggies are seeking to open SEC play 1-0 for the first time in three years since joining the league.
KEY MATCHUP
South Carolina QB Dylan Thompson against Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett. Thompson is a senior taking over for Connor Shaw, who led the Gamecocks to three straight 11-2 seasons. But Garrett is a five-star freshman at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds who has drawn comparisons to former Gamecock star Jadeveon Clowney. The Aggies hope they can generate pressure to disrupt Thompson’s rhythm.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Texas A&M: QB Kenny Hill. The sophomore is taking over for Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. Hill completed 16 of 22 for 183 yards and a touchdown in four games last year.
South Carolina: RB Mike Davis. The junior tailback put up 100 yards or more in seven of South Carolina’s first nine games before fading due to injuries as the season went on. Still, he finished with 1,183 yards, the fourth-highest single-season rushing mark in Gamecocks history, trailing two seasons Heisman winner George Rogers (1,894 yards in 1980, 1,681 yards in 1979) and Marcus Lattimore (1,197 yards in 2010).
FACTS & FIGURES
South Carolina has won a record 18 straight games at home entering this season. The mark is the longest current streak in the country. … Texas A&M has gone 10-2 in games away from home under coach Kevin Sumlin, including a 2012 victory at Alabama. … Steve Spurrier is seeking his 200th win as an SEC coach. He won 122 games in 12 seasons at Florida and has 77 victories since joining South Carolina. … Game is the first to be broadcast on the just-launched SEC Network. The network will show Temple at Vanderbilt following the Aggies-Gamecocks game. … Texas A&M fans in Columbia plan to have their traditional yell practice at midnight on the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse. … Texas A&M has scored first in 23 of 26 games since coach Kevin Sumlin took over.
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