Rain, rain
A little less than an hour before kickoff of tonight's game between No. 11 South Carolina and No. 8 Kentucky, there was a perfect rainbow hanging above the east side of the field. A sportswriting buddy of mine asked me if it was omen. My answer? For somebody.The question is, for who? Or better yet, if the rain that's steadily coming down now continues for most of the game, which team does it favor?
The obvious answer would be South Carolina. Why? With Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson getting so much hype, the Wildcats are perceived to be a passing team. It's no secret that passing teams often have trouble in sloppy weather. And the Gamecocks have a tough running back duo in Mike Davis and Cory Boyd, and playing on a wet field against a defense as porous as the Wildcats' would be better suited for a team that can run.
That's the theory, anyway, I've heard more over the past few days than any other.
But many people seem to be forgetting something. Kentucky can run the ball, too. Rafael Little, a native of Anderson, averages better than 109 yards a game and 6.7 yards per carry. And while the Gamecocks have played really good pass defense so far, their run defense has been suspect at times, most notably against Louisiana-Lafayette and LSU. Maybe the Gamecocks just can't stop teams from Louisiana, I don't know.
But I don't think it's a given that rainy weather favors the Gamecocks heavily. It will be interesting to see, really, if the rain favors anyone if it keeps up.
Check back at halftime for an update.
Posted by
on 10/04 at 05:53 PM
