Preview: UAB Blazers at No. 8 South Carolina Gamecocks

The Old Ball Coach goes for his 200th career win Saturday vs. UAB. (Getty Images)

UAB (0-1, 0-0 C-USA) at No. 8 South Carolina (2-0, 1-0 SEC)

Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (FSN)

Spread: South Carolina by 33.5

Watchability: The Gamecocks try to give coach Steve Spurrier his 200th career victory in a lopsided matchup. Running back Marcus Lattimore needs one touchdown to break the school's alltime record of 33, set by George Rogers and matched by Harold Green.

Shining stars: South Carolina: Dylan Thompson. With starter Connor Shaw (bruised throwing shoulder) still uncertain, Thompson could get another chance after lighting up East Carolina for 330 yards and three TDs with no INTs. The 6-foot-3 sophomore has the downfield arm Spurrier loves. UAB: Jonathan Perry. The 6-2 junior threw for 317 yards and two TDs in the Blazers' 39-29 season-opening loss, but committed two fourth-quarter turnovers leading to Troy touchdowns.

Who could steal the show: South Carolina: Jadeveon Clowney. The freakishly talented defensive end is off to a so-so start, with two tackles for loss, a sack and two QB hurries. This could be the game he wreaks havoc. UAB: Jackie Williams. The junior wideout has caught a pass in 24 straight games, getting six receptions for 157 yards and a TD in the opener. He seems destined to break the school's 35-game streak set by Roddy White and Derrick Ingram.

You going? Ranking the road trip: The party goes all day for a night game at Williams-Brice Stadium, which will be filled with more than 80,000 fans. Yahoo! declared Columbia the best college town in America in 2009.

Magic number for South Carolina: 6. The Gamecocks have won six straight dating to last season, their longest streak since the final three games of 2006 and first three of 2007. The school record is nine straight, set in 1984.

Magic number for UAB: 1. New coach Garrick McGee is looking for his first victory. The Blazers hired him away from Arkansas, where he spent the last two years as offensive coordinator. He was a finalist for the 2011 Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant.

The game comes down to: The Gamecocks face seven straight SEC games starting Sept. 22 against Missouri. So Spurrier could be torn between pulling starters and running up the score.

Prediction: South Carolina 45, UAB 10

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Daniel Lewis and Larry Hartstein, follow @CBSSportsSEC.