South Carolina (5-4, 3-4 SEC) at No. 22 Florida (6-2, 4-2), Noon (CBS)
Line: Florida by 11½.
Series Record: Florida leads 25-8-3.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Maybe the SEC East. The Gators can clinch the division with a victory against the Gamecocks coupled with Kentucky winning at Tennessee. If Florida loses to former coach Will Muschamp, its East lead could evaporate next week at LSU.
KEY MATCHUP
Muschamp vs. Jim McElwain. The coaches are the most intriguing matchup, with Muschamp’s improving Gamecocks trying to spoil “Senior Day” and maybe the East title for McElwain’s struggling Gators. Muschamp returns to Florida Field for the first time since he was fired late in the 2014 season and will be in the stadium as guys he recruited to Gainesville are honored before their home finale.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
South Carolina: Freshman QB Jake Bentley is 3-0 as the starter, completing 73 percent of his passes for 622 yards, with six touchdowns and no interceptions. And he will face a Florida defense that will be without its top two tacklers, linebackers Jarrad Davis (ankle) and Alex Anzalone (arm).
Florida: Freshman LB David Reese will make his first career start, filling in for Davis, and handle all the calls for a defense that ranks third nationally. If Reese shows his youth and inexperience, it could be a long day for the home team.
FACTS & FIGURES
South Carolina has won four of the last six meetings. … Coming off five straight home games, the Gamecocks are on the road for the first time since Sept. 24. … Have won three in a row. … Muschamp went 28-21, including 17-15 in SEC play, at Florida and was fired partly because of his inability to fix a woeful offense. Muschamp was 15-7 in his first 22 games in Gainesville. McElwain is 16-6 in 22 games and has yet to show consistent signs he can get Florida back to its high-scoring ways. … The Gators will be without QB Luke Del Rio, who could miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Purdue transfer Austin Appleby will make his third start of the season and first at home.
___
More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org
Please read our comment policy before commenting.