Big Game; it is the Big Game; It has to be the Big Game; it’s traditional, and two undefeated teams, and a championship perhaps on the line; Gamecocks v Volunteers … big Big BIG.

Tennessee travels to South Carolina for a game of two undefeated teams. Tennessee is 5-0 in the SCRC East. South Carolina is 4-0. The winner will secure 1st in the division and thus have an easier semifinal against the SCRC West #2 (none of whom look too worrying), while the loser will have a semi against Alabama, currently 5-0.

So there’s a lot riding on this one, but to hear Tennessee Coach Marty Bradley tell it, there’s a big difference between the two teams.

“South Carolina is pretty far ahead of everyone else in our conference as of now,” said Bradley. “Their scholarship program, international recruiting and massive roster and coaching staff have really paid dividends. It will take a special effort for anyone in the conference to play with them. The keys will probably be possession and organized pressure.  You got to keep the ball out of their hands particularly in space.  Yo start turning it over and you will give them enough ball for them to break you with their ball skills and speed.”

Speed, of course, is something USC likes to play with, but hasn’t so much of late because of the rain.

“Rain hurts the speed game,” said South Carolina Head Coach Mark Morris. “This is a big game for us this season. it all comes down to the wire, which is how we like it. It comes down to who will step up and make it happen.”

Tennessee saw off their other rivals Georgia last week 32-10. It was a game where the Vols’ restarts were clicking and allowed them to attack on the front foot. Logan McNeil throwing to Jack Donlon in the lineouts was working and Collin Thul made the scrums operate.

“We got Charles Jacobi back from injury and he made an impact at center,” said Bradley. “We dusted off the kicking game and that seemed to open up some space for us. Defense has indeed been good but as of yet we haven’t played an expansive attack like the one we will see from South Carolina. Georgia is much improved over last year and played inspired rugby.  They weren’t going to beat themselves so we had to really work to create our opportunities.”

So Tennessee is playing good defense, keeping the ball, and executing at set piece.

Meanwhile, USC wants to run, run, run.

“We want to move the ball,” said Morris. “But we need to play within our game plan, as well. Our starting 23, and the six or seven after that, know what we need to be doing, and everyone’s on board. We have good reserves, they have been working hard on their conditioning, and we know what the goals are. They continue to push themselves, which is what we want.”

Perhaps the biggest issue for both of these teams is competitive games. They run into a few in the conference, but not nearly enough. And, as Bradley pointed out, as one or two programs work on recruiting, funding, and depth, others struggle. It’s a struggle, also, for USC to find games for their 70-plus players. This one, at least, won’t be an A-sde game and done. Tennessee will bring it.

After this week, USC has one more game, against Mississippi State. The Gamecocks should win that and head into the playoffs either 5-1 or 6-0. Then it’s on to the semis on November 14, and the final during the ACRC Bowl Series November 21.

Meanwhile, in the West, Florida faces Ole Miss with a chance to clinch 2nd and a spot in the payoffs alongside the formidable Alabama. Oddly, while at 1-3, Ole Miss can still take 2nd - the Rebs would need to beat Florida and then Auburn next week to accomplish that.