Final thoughts and a prediction ahead of South Carolina’s football game at Texas A&M

Still searching for its first victory in College Station, South Carolina (2-5, 1-4 SEC) travels west to face off against Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2 SEC).

For all their struggles this season, these are a pair of teams that truly haven’t taken an unforgivable loss. The five teams South Carolina has lost to have a combined six losses between them this season. And the trio of squads that have beat Texas A&M have totaled just five defeats themselves.

These are what middling programs look like in the SEC. And they will kick off at noon ET on ESPN.

Those are the facts. Here are some thoughts:

1. Pray for the offensive line

This is not the week you want to play Texas A&M. Heck, this is not the season you want to play Texas A&M.

South Carolina is the carcass that has washed up on the beach, wounded and smelly. The Aggies are the seagulls that dive into the blood and guts like it’s a filet mignon. Normally they have to work for their dinner, but seagulls aren’t known to turn down freebies.

As you probably know, South Carolina is a shell of itself right now. During the Carolina Calls radio show on Thursday night, it took play-by-play announcer Todd Ellis almost 30 seconds to run through all the names on the injury report this week.

What we know:

▪ OUT: WR Ahmarean Brown, WR Juice Wells, OL Vershon Lee and OL Jaxon Hughes

▪ QUESTIONABLE: OL Tree Babalade, OL Cason Henry, and OL Trovon Baugh.

That’s a lot of OLs — and it doesn’t even include those (like freshman Markee Anderson and last year’s starting left tackle, Jaylen Nichols) who are out for the whole season.

“I try not to keep count,” Beamer said, “but I’m reminded every day when I walk through the training room on my way to practice and they’re all in there getting treatment.”

The Gamecocks are limping through the season right now, which is not the thing you want to say right before playing Texas A&M.

The Aggies have underachieved mightily under Jimbo Fisher. Folks have their feelings about Fisher. A struggling offense and an injured quarterback haven’t helped his chances of keeping his job after this season. But that defensive line is full of monsters, guys who probably look at South Carolina as a chance to pad their stats.

Starting across the defensive line for the Aggies is Fadil Diggs (formerly the No. 153 prospect in America), Walter Nolan (the No. 2 prospect in the 2022 class), McKinnley Jackson (No. 62 overall) and Shemar Turner (No. 22). And backing them up is LT Overton (the No. 14 prospect in 2022).

The Aggies’ defensive line has talent on talent on talent. Pray for the Gamecocks’ patchwork offensive line on Saturday.

2. Don’t get into third down

Early in the preparation for a certain opponent, South Carolina has graduate assistants or staffers compile situational film. Specifically third downs.

This week, Beamer thought someone made a mistake. There were almost no clips of Texas A&M’s defense in 3rd-and-3. There were even fewer examples in 3rd-and-short. Of the 91 times an opponent has faced a third down against the Aggies, Beamer said, 87 of them were 3rd-and-4 or longer.

Heading into Saturday, Texas A&M is allowing offenses to convert on third down just 28.6% of the time (T-6 in FBS).

“You can see what the (Aggies’) front does to opposing teams,’‘ USC offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said.

3. Will Jalon Kilgore play at nickel again?

Kilgore, South Carolina’s freshman safety, got word from the Gamecocks’ coaches that he would be moving from safety to nickel.

Against Missouri, the 6-foot-1, 204-pound Kilgore was huge in keeping the Tigers’ passing attack in check and was also quick to react to run plays and dart into the box. Even on the one pass play Kilgore gave up — a deep touchdown to Luther Burden III — that wasn’t Kilgore’s fault, Beamer said Thursday.

After last week, one would guess we’ll see Kilgore at nickel again with Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith at safety.

“He can run like an average-plus corner. He has good cover skills and the instincts are there,” defensive coordinator Clayton White said. “He loves being around the box and has a knack for being slippery and making plays. The closer we get those guys to the ball, the better off we are.”

4. Look for Spencer Rattler to throw throw ball away

Rattler is in a crappy position. Two of his better wide receivers are out. His offensive line looks different every week. And the defense isn’t giving him much of a cushion. He is trying to hit a grand slam on every play — which can sometimes be miraculous but mostly has him on his butt.

Rattler got sacked a half-dozen times last week against Missouri. There should have been two more but the Tigers’ pass rushers were so excited to pummel him into the ground that they drew flags.

But Rattler is in a tough spot, especially on third downs. When he tries to be a magician and evade a sack, he ends up taking a sack and losing more yardage. But South Carolina does need him to be a magician and escape every once in a while.

There is no easy answer, but I’d expect to see Rattler chuck the ball into the stands a few more times on Saturday. To take fewer sacks and try to make sure the Gamecocks are always winning the field-position battle.

“Spencer wants to make plays. Spencer wants to win,” Loggains said. “Spencer wants to sit in the pocket and do what he needs to do to win games. But there’s a fine line. Like, ‘Throw it away. Throw it away. We can kick field goals. We can punt. Don’t take unnecessary loss-of-yardage plays.’ ”

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 30, South Carolina 18