Alyssa Lang expects a 'defensive showdown' between Ags and Gamecocks

Known for her duties as a sideline reporter and host for SEC Network, Alyssa Lang is also a Gamecock Alumni. Ahead of Saturday's showdown in Columbia, Lang joined TexAgs Live to speak on Shane Beamer's squad and much more.

Key notes from Alyssa Lang interview

• It's funny because I feel like Texas A&M and South Carolina fans are doing the Spiderman meme right now, pointing at each other for how they feel about this game. I like A&M in this one. I know I am not supposed to say that. With the broadcaster hat on and the fan hat aside, I remember seeing that team up close Week 2, coming off the Notre Dame, it was McNeese State but still. Seeing what coach Mike Elko is building, talking to some of the players about what their expectations were for the season, knowing how much talent they had then and watching it only get better and better week after week.
   
• We say it all the time: If you have two quarterbacks, you don't have any. I don't think that's the case with Texas A&M. That was proven against LSU. South Carolina’s defense is incredible, but their offensive line has given up the second-most sacks in the FBS. Trench play is the name of the game.
   
• If A&M and South Carolina are equal on the defensive front, I am not sure they are equal on the offensive front. That’s where I give A&M the edge. I think it’s going to be a defensive showdown. I don't think a ton of points will be scored by anybody in Columbia. 
   
• When South Carolina fans ask me what the formula is for the Gamecocks to get a win, the defense scoring points off of turnovers is what I come to time after time. I had South Carolina’s game at Oklahoma. Started the game with a pick-six. They scored another touchdown on a scoop and score.
   
• A&M has done a really good job as it relates to the SEC and the numbers when it comes to protecting the football. Whoever is at quarterback for A&M and hangs onto the football, and the same goes for LaNorris Sellers. One of the coaches on staff at South Carolina said, “If I can just my freshman quarterback to hang onto the football, we will be in good shape.” If you are going to Columbia, I think we get a good game either way. 
   
• Perhaps Conner Weigman doesn't have the full trust of the coaching staff in big-game moments. I thought it was gutsy for Elko and this staff to make the change to go to Marcel Reed, but man, did it pay off. We all went into the year saying, “Weigman is going to ‘Wow’ the country.” You had seen flashes of it. I picked LSU to win last week because of the QB situation. Garrett Nussmeier had shown more consistency. I didn't factor in Weigman would not be the quarterback who finished the game.
   
• It will be really interesting to see how A&M goes about it on Saturday. I do think there is a world you can see both. You mention the arm Weigman has and then what Reed brings to you from a zone read standpoint. South Carolina’s defense will have to prepare for both.
   
• It really is a luxury. Elko spoke to it on Saturday night. Reed stayed ready and prepared. The moment wasn't too big for him. We very well could have just seen him win over the starting job at Texas A&M.
   
• If the season ends now, how could the Coach of the Year candidate not be Mike Elko? What he did in the first year with a lot of talent he inherited, but also a lot of talent he went and got. What he has done in College Station has been awesome to watch.
   
• This was an important year for Shane Beamer in a different sense. Knowing he had been there for four years, knowing this felt like a make-or-break season after not making the postseason Losing some close games, this is a South Carolina team that has overperformed from what the national expectation was this season.