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Alabama-South Carolina Preview

Oct 6, 2010 - 2:08 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

No. 1 Alabama (5-0) at South Carolina (3-1), 3:30 p.m. EDT

With an astounding performance against South Carolina last year, Mark Ingram suddenly emerged as one of the nation's most dangerous running backs and went on to become Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner.

Ingram is again off to a strong start this season, and his team looks like it has what it takes to repeat as national champions.

Coming off an emphatic win over a top 10 opponent, Ingram and the top-ranked Crimson Tide again try to roll over the 19th-ranked Gamecocks on Saturday.

Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) was expected to be tested against then-No. 7 Florida last Saturday night, but it cruised to a 31-6 win. The Tide led 24-0 in the second quarter behind two touchdown runs by Ingram and a defense that forced two turnovers on the Gators' first three possessions.

"The first 30 minutes of the Florida game is sort of the standard that we talk about that we want to play to, and everybody needs to have the accountability to that standard," coach Nick Saban said.

"I think the biggest thing is being able to continue to challenge yourself and challenge each other to improve and play to a standard, and I think that's what we really want to try to do here."

Alabama has played at a high level since the start of last season and has won 19 in a row, with much of the success stemming from a strong running game.

Ingram has 335 rushing yards and six touchdowns in three games after missing the first two with a knee injury.

The Gamecocks are fully aware of how tough it is to slow down Ingram after he rushed for 246 yards - third-best in Alabama history - against them last season. Ingram accounted for all 68 yards on the final scoring drive of a 20-6 win, carrying five times out of the wildcat before taking a pitch for a 4-yard TD.

"I think South Carolina was what really threw me in the (Heisman) race," he said.

Ingram is joined in the backfield by Trent Richardson, who started the first two games and has rushed for 419 yards and four scores.

The duo has been a nightmare for defenses, as Ingram averages 7.9 yards per carry and Richardson 7.4.

"To slow down Alabama, you've obviously got to slow them down to start with," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said.

That could be quite a problem for the Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1), who gave up 334 rushing yards in a 35-27 loss to then-No. 17 Auburn on Sept. 25. It was the fourth-most rushing yards allowed by South Carolina since 1996.

Stopping the run isn't the only problem for Spurrier, who is one victory away from moving into sole possession of second place on the SEC's all-time list behind Alabama's Bear Bryant.

He was in position to get his milestone 107th victory against the Tigers, but the Gamecocks squandered a 20-7 lead. Spurrier said his team used the bye week to concentrate on fundamentals and correct the mistakes that led to the collapse.

Spurrier pulled starting quarterback Stephen Garcia late against Auburn after his second fourth-quarter fumble. Freshman Connor Shaw played the final two series, with both drives ending with interceptions.

"Our goals this week are to play better and try to improve as a team," Spurrier said.

Spurrier said Garcia will get the start against the Tide, ending any quarterback controversy. The junior has thrown for 743 yards with five touchdowns and completed 69.1 percent of his passes, but he's accounted for all three South Carolina fumbles.

"Hopefully he'll protect the ball when he runs," Spurrier said.

Spurrier has lost his two games against Alabama with South Carolina and the Gamecocks haven't defeated the Tide since 2004.

This will be South Carolina's fifth game against the nation's No. 1 team, and the program is seeking its first win over an opponent ranked in the top three since beating No. 3 North Carolina in 1981.