The Good USC’s Steve Spurrier called Florida’s special teams the best in the country. It’s a trend started by Urban Meyer, and the Gators haven’t missed a beat. They use a lot of regulars and playmakers and rank second in the SEC in kickoffs at 25.6 yards per return. Jeff Demps has returned a kickoff for a touchdown and Chris Rainey has one on a punt return. The team has blocked four kicks. Caleb Sturgis is one of the top field goal kickers in the league and has made 17 of his 19 attempts with a long of 55 this season; he hasn’t missed an extra point. The defense hasn’t been quite as great as years past, but it’s still pretty darn good. The Gators allow 19.7 points per game (fourth in the SEC) and 306.1 yards per contest. UF is holding opponents to just 30 percent on third-down conversions. It’s led by middle linebacker Jonathan Bostic has recorded 65 tackles. The Bad The offense isn’t much better than South Carolina’s right now. Florida is scoring 26 points per game and 345.8 yards per game; both put them in the lower half in the league. The Gators got off to a torrid start, scoring 41, 39, 33 and 48 in their first four games. But when better defenses, like LSU and Alabama, popped up on the schedule, the points fell to 10, 11, 6 and 20 during a four-game losing streak. Florida just snapped it last Saturday against Vanderbilt, holding on late for a 26-21 win. The loss to Georgia two weeks ago ended Florida’s hopes of a division title. That’s not something Will Muschamp wanted to see in his first year in Gainesville. It hasn’t helped that QB John Brantley missed two games because of injury. The run game is crucial for the Gators to use play action and throw down the field, but it’s sputtered at time behind Demps and Rainey. The Skinny UF isn’t used to playing the role of spoiler, which it can be today by beating the Gamecocks. Muschamp has said his team is responding well to just playing for bowl eligibility and finishing up the season with a good attitude, but at a proud program like Florida, where competing for titles is a must, that’s a little hard to believe. That’s not to say the Gators don’t have what it takes to beat USC today. The Gamecocks have a lot of pressure on them, although it will help that they play before Georgia. And with USC’s offense sputtering as of late behind quarterback Connor Shaw and a makeshift offensive line, picking a winner today is difficult. The Gamecocks are bracing for a close game, and they’re hoping that Shaw can hit just enough passes and they get a little boost from the running game to put up a few touchdowns. It’s unknown if the running game will be led by Kenny Miles or freshman Brandon Wilds, but the Gators will have to worry more about stopping the feet of Shaw. Florida has the defense to give USC issues, and the Gator special teams is far superior in this match. Still, with more motivation on the line for South Carolina, it would be a shock not to see the Gamecocks give it their all today. Even that on this decimated roster should be enough at home. Williams-Brice hasn’t seen a game in a month, and it gets no bigger than this one.