Using ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) as a guide, South Carolina (3-2, 2-2) has a 62.7 percent chance to beat Kentucky (3-1, 1-1) on Saturday.

EGOS BRUISED, GAMECOCKS RETURN TO BASICS (WINNING) IN LEXINGTON

No one expected this.

Kentucky was supposed to be the sleepwalk road game heading into the bye week before Auburn, sandwiched in the middle of pivotal SEC contests.

At worst, South Carolina would have one loss and be in the hunt for its second Eastern Division title since 2010 along with the inaugural College Football Playoff. Instead, the Gamecocks are trending downward, playing their first game as an unranked team since the season opener four years ago.

Kentucky’s 3-1 coming off its first conference win in 2.5 years and is just a 3.5-point underdog in Lexington. Should the Wildcats win, South Carolina virtually eliminated from anything meaningful this season and Kentucky’s steps into a contender role in the division.

“They play a lot differently than the Kentucky teams 10 years ago, 15 years ago,” Steve Spurrier said this week. “They’re a fast team, no question.”

Four years ago on the road, the Gamecocks built a 28-10 lead before a blown coverage late in the fourth quarter sealed it for the Wildcats. Facing a 4th-and-7 at the South Carolina 24-yard line, Mike Hartline found Randall Cobb behind the defense for the go-ahead touchdown.

The Gamecocks managed to get into game-tying field goal range before an interception sealed their fate.

It’s still Spurrier’s only career loss to Kentucky.

South Carolina’s hoping Commonwealth Stadium doesn’t provide another horrific memory Saturday night.