Even after last year, and countless disappointments before that, you'll still find someone out the there floating the "This is South Carolina's breakthrough year" meme. Not just homers, either: the inimitable Phil Steele ranks the Cocks in his top 20, ahead of Tennessee, and highlights them on his "Most Improved" and "Surprise Teams" lists. Until Carolina's quarterback play and line play on both sides is consistently on the level of the elite teams it's always supposed to be joining, let me say, officially: give it a rest.

But for tonight, while South Carolina may have a lot of questions, N.C. State sees them all, and raises. The Gamecocks are relying on an rarely tested junior quarterback who may not make it through a game with the notoriously impatient Steve Spurrier; the Pack is starting the least likely option it could find from its crowded field of passers, a lightly-recruited redshirt freshman who goes from running the scout team to taking his first real snaps in an SEC stadium, on the road. South Carolina made a surprising decision about its starting tailback; N.C. State's starting tailback will miss the game with an ankle injury. Carolina is hoping a veteran front seven can find its footing after being severely gashed on the ground at the end of last season; NC State is replacing five of its front seven starters from the ACC's worst run defense.

At least Carolina has some reliable options on offense, notably Mike Davis in the backfield and Jared Cook, Dion LeCorn and steady (as well as steadily overlooked) Kenny McKinley at receiver. On top of the quarterback issues, add to N.C. State's woes that 's only known commodity at receiver, Donald Bowens, is out for the season with a hairline fracture of his spine, and the possible glimmers of hope for the Pack offense dwindle to one: Andre Brown, who'll replace Jamelle Eugene at tailback, was the catalyst of both of the consecutive wins over Florida State in '05 and '06 averaged more than five yards per carry while splitting time both seasons. If USC hasn't solved whatever it is that caused the defense to roll over against Arkansas, Florida and Clemson last November, Brown is good enough to thrive in a low-scoring, keep-away kind of game.

That's wishful thinking, though, when Carolina gets so many young, talented players back defensively, including Jasper Brinkley in the middle, whose absence directly correlates with the slide over the second half of the season, and Brown was an afterthought who didn't set foot on the field during NC State's sudden four-game winning streak last year. It will be ugly, reminiscent of the Cocks' opening Thursday slugfest with Mississippi State in 2006 -- a game USC eventually won 15-0 -- but no matter how sluggish the Carolina offense looks, the punchless Pack will have just as tough a time getting on the board.

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Photo of Kenny McKinley via Getty Images.