By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

As a college football fan what would you rather see: Your team struggle to a below .500 record and finish near the bottom of your division, but have your in-state rival go through those same pains; or would you want to have a successful season only to see those same rivals win a national title? Basically, is it more important to you that your favorite team wins, or that your least favorite loses?

When it comes the University of South Carolina and their fans, last year was the worst of both those scenarios.

Not only did the Gamecocks finish the season with a record of 6-7 and tied for fifth in the SEC East, but they had to sit and watch the one team they despise more than winning be crowned “Champions”.

I imagine their level of depression was Nick Cage in Leaving Las Vegas bad. The good news is this season can only be an improvement over last.

Looking at the hierarchy of the SEC East this year, there are three teams that should be better than the rest; Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. South Carolina, along with Kentucky, are the best of the rest.

When you combine how inconsistent the division has been in recent years, South Carolina’s ability to be in almost every game they played in last year and the fact they have some talent returning to the field, there is reason for optimism in Columbia.

The strength of the Gamecocks is on the offensive side of the ball. From Kurt Roper, their Offensive Coordinator, to Sophomore signal caller Jake Bentley and his array of weapons in the passing game, South Carolina will be able to put points on board.

The defense, on the other hand, will be a different story. The return of Skai Moore, who missed all of last season with an injury, will help shore up a unit that was weak against the run last year; just not enough to make much of difference over the long season.

Don’t be surprised, however, if South Carolina starts the season off strong. With the exception of their road game at Texas A&M, their more difficult games will either be at home (Kentucky and Arkansas), or on a neutral field (NC State to begin the season).

They’ll need a strong start if they hope to improve on last season’s win total. Four of their last six games will be against the East’s top three teams I mentioned earlier, as well as Clemson. That’s as difficult a stretch as you’re liable to find on anyone’s schedule.

I’ve never been all that high on Will Muschamp; he’s a little overrated in my view but I do think he got kind of a raw deal in Florida. That’s a tough gig to have for anyone, let alone someone’s first college head coaching shot.

Coming to a place like South Carolina was the right decision for him and you can see the upward projection that his team is on.

Gamecock fans should be able to see improvement in this year’s squad, even if their record ultimately resembles that of last year. Will their fans be ok with another .500 season- more than likely that’s around where they’ll end up- or will their patience begin to wain?

I guess the better question is this: How much of that patience will depend on what is happening with that Tiger team down the road?