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Spurrier, South Carolina look to down Florida in Columbia

Nov 10, 2007 - 11:33 AM No. 17 Florida (6-3) at South Carolina (6-4) 7:45 pm EST

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) -- South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier will need a better defensive effort from his squad this week to defeat his former team.

The Gamecocks try to end a three-game losing streak Saturday when they host No. 17 Florida in a Southeastern Conference matchup.

South Carolina (6-4, 3-4 SEC East) was ranked sixth in the country when it was stunned at home by Vanderbilt on October 20, 17-6. The Gamecocks followed with back-to-back defeats at Tennessee and Arkansas.

In last week's 48-36 setback in Fayetteville, the Gamecocks surrendered 542 rushing yards to the Razorbacks, including an SEC record-tying 321 to Darren McFadden. After the game, Spurrier said the Gamecocks resembled "a Division III team" defensively.

Florida (6-3, 4-3 East), which like South Carolina will be playing its final SEC game of the season, had dropped three of its previous four games before crushing Vanderbilt last week in Gainesville, 49-22.

Percy Harvin became the first Gator ever to have both 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game and had a pair of TDs in the romp, while Tim Tebow threw for three TDs and ran for two more.

Spurrier won his first meeting with his old team here two years ago, but last year the Gators emerged victorious at "The Swamp," 17-16, on a blocked field goal at the end of the game. Florida went on to win its first national title since doing so under Spurrier in 1996.