Will the Gamecocks step up in Spurrier's second year?

                    

	Steve Spurrier Grant Halverson/Getty Images South Carolina 2005 Record 7-5 (5-3 SEC) Final AP Rank -- Returning Starters 13 (5 offense, 4 defense) Last National Title None The Contenders Auburn Michigan Cal Nebraska Clemson Notre Dame Florida State Ohio State Georgia Tech South Carolina Iowa USC Louisville Utah Miami West Virginia

By Stewart Mandel, SI.com

Why South Carolina can win it all: Reason No. 1: Steve Spurrier. Reason No. 2: the schedule. South Carolina managed to tie for second in the SEC East in Spurrier's first season and figures to be a whole lot more potent offensively in Year 2. And in a huge break, the Gamecocks get Georgia, Auburn and Tennessee at home, and Mississippi State, Kentucky and Vandy on the road.

What must fall into place: QB Blake Mitchell must get more comfortable in Spurrier's offense, a second quality receiver needs to emerge beside stud Sidney Rice and the Gamecocks need to get more out of their running game. Several inexperienced defenders have to step up in place of departed standouts safety Ko Simpson, CB Jonathan Joseph and LB Ricardo Hurley.

How it could go wrong: With two of its toughest SEC games, Georgia and Auburn, being played in September, it's crucial for Spurrier's team to get off to a faster start than it did last year. While the offense is likely to be much improved, the defense, which lost its top seven tacklers, could take a big step back, dooming the Gamecocks to another middle-of-the-pack SEC finish.

Good omen: Spurrier's second season at Florida (1991) produced the most wins (10) in a season in that school's history. (He went on to win 12 games in both '95 and '96.) South Carolina's current record is 10, set in 1984.

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