Filed under: Clemson, South Carolina, ACC, SEC
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Three weeks ago, South Carolina got a valuable lesson in motivation.A showdown in The Swamp with Florida for the Gamecocks' first SEC East title loomed, but they had to get through a meaningless home game with Arkansas first.
And they played like it, too. The Razorbacks rolled them, 41-10, and coach Steve Spurrier later admitted his team lacked proper focus.
Saturday night, USC got another chance to show consistency -- and take a chokehold on the Palmetto State in the process. The East title was in their pocket, and an SEC title showdown with Auburn lay seven days away.
Would the Gamecocks have enough single-minded focus to handle arch rival Clemson?
On the floor of Death Valley, USC showed it had excellent tunnel vision.
Despite spotting the Tigers an early 7-0 lead, the Gamecocks scored the game's final 29 points for a 29-7 rout.
South Carolina improved to 9-3 and will face Auburn next week in the SEC title game. Clemson fell to 6-6 and will learn its bowl destination next Sunday.
"It springboards a lot," said USC quarterback Stephen Garcia. "It was big coming in here and playing against a Clemson team that's a rival. They were looking to knock us down and we fought hard. Defense played outstanding. That was a big win for us, huge win for us."
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