Perceived as favorable, Steve Spurrier’s often been critical of Georgia’s path to an Eastern Division title in terms of scheduling, but heading into this season, South Carolina’s head coach has changed his tune a bit, focusing on his own team.

He likes the way the Gamecocks’ 2014 slate is assembled with no back-to-back road games for the first time since 1986 and three division rivalry matchups inside the friendly confines of Williams-Brice Stadium where the Gamecocks have won a nation-leading 18 straight.

South Carolina played Georgia, Mizzou and Tennessee at home in 2012 and won by an average of 17.3 points per contest.

“(Deputy athletic director) Charles Waddell deserves a big hand. He’s our schedule maker,” Spurrier told The State. “We have a beautiful schedule.”

By Oct. 11, South Carolina, the media’s preseason pick to win its side, will know what its made of after playing five league contests in a six-week span to open the season. No other SEC program has more than three games against league opponents during that stretch.

SOUTH CAROLINA’S 2014 SCHEDULE

  • Aug. 28 — Texas A&M
  • Sept. 6 — East Carolina
  • Sept. 13 — Georgia
  • Sept. 20 — at Vanderbilt
  • Sept. 27 — Mizzou
  • Oct. 4 — at Kentucky
  • Oct. 11 — OFF
  • Oct. 18 — Furman
  • Oct. 25 — at Auburn
  • Nov. 1 — Tennessee
  • Nov. 8 — OFF
  • Nov. 15 — at Florida
  • Nov. 22 — South Alabama
  • Nov. 29 — at Clemson

Some have called the schedule front-loaded, but when taking the final six weeks of the season into account, the Gamecocks could potentially battle three nationally-ranked teams over their last five games including pivotal contests at Auburn and at Florida. One of two off weeks comes before the much-anticipated trip to the Swamp.

It’s a well-balanced, but not overly difficult slate by SEC standards.

“I mean, we still have to go play,” Spurrier said. “We could still fall flat on our face, we know that, but as far as the schedule, the timing of it … it’s a pretty nice setup.”