Florida looks to get the final third of its 2021 season off to a strong start Saturday night when they face South Carolina in Columbia (7:30 p.m., SEC Network). Both the Gators and Gamecocks enter Saturday night’s contest at Williams-Brice Stadium with 4-4 records. The winner will be 1 win from bowl eligibility.

Will Florida bounce back from being routed 34-7 by its archrival in Jacksonville last week? Did the Gamecocks use their bye week to correct what went wrong in a 44-14 loss to Texas A&M? These teams have more questions than answers at this point, but the Gamecocks, in Year 1 under Shane Beamer, at least appear headed in a positive direction. Florida is flailing in Year 4 under Dan Mullen and Gator Nation is running thin on patience. Something has to give Saturday night.

Here are 5 bold predictions for the Gators and the Gamecocks.

300 total yards for Emory Jones

Anthony Richardson left the Georgia game with an injury and Florida, which closed off media availability for the remainder of the week outside of Mullen’s scheduled SEC teleconference call, has not said whether Richardson will play Saturday night.

Even if Richardson is available, Emory Jones is likely to start after moving the Gators in the second half against Georgia. Jones was 10-14 for 112 yards against the Dawgs and added 22 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.

I’d expect him to start and play well. Jones has surpassed 300 total yards of offense twice this season, in wins over Tennessee and Vanderbilt. He eclipsed 275 in Florida’s 2-point loss to Alabama as well. When he’s on, he’s terrific, and he should be again Saturday night against a Gamecocks defense that has really struggled against the run (87th nationally) and mobile quarterbacks in 2021.

A bounce-back game for Kevin Harris

Before the season, Kevin Harris was the SEC’s leading returning rusher and a guy pegged as a first-team All-SEC running back. What a nightmare this season has been for the powerful junior running back.

Running behind an anemic offensive line, Harris has run for only 235 yards this season and averaged only 3.5 yards per carry. A season ago, Harris had 243 yards — in 1 game — against Ole Miss.

Florida has made a few running backs look like future NFL pro bowlers this season, and the Gators have surrendered at least 5.8 yards per carry to their prior 2 opponents (LSU and Georgia).

The Gamecocks have struggled to run the ball all year, but Harris has been banged up over the past few weeks and looks good in practice this week after just 2 carries against the Aggies and a bye week. Harris will eclipse his season-high of 61 yards Saturday night by some distance against a Gators front that has been chewed up by opposing run games the past few weeks.

A 4-sack night for Zachary Carter and Brenton Cox

Carter is still within striking distance of the SEC and national sack lead this season with 6.5. He’ll add to that tally Saturday night in Columbia against a Gamecocks offensive line missing 2 starters due to injury. Brenton Cox should feast, too, adding to his season total of 6.

The Gamecocks also may be playing without Zeb Noland, the graduate assistant coach turned quarterback who heroically led South Carolina to victory over Vanderbilt earlier this season. Noland has been limited in practice after a meniscus surgery during the Gamecocks bye week, meaning that South Carolina may have to face Florida’s terrific pass rush without a veteran quarterback. If Noland is out, Jason Brown will be the third Gamecocks QB to start a game for Beamer’s team this season.

A new quarterback, plus an offensive line that ranks 105th nationally in preventing sacks against a defensive line that ranks in the top 15 in getting sacks? That’s a bad matchup.

A breakout game for Xzavier Henderson

The Florida sophomore appeared poised for a breakout performance early in the year, especially after a 4-reception, 68-yard and touchdown game at USF. But he’s been quiet for most of SEC play, until the Georgia game, when he caught a team-high 4 passes on 5 targets.

His chemistry with both of Florida’s quarterbacks is improved and, facing an outstanding Gamecocks secondary that will likely focus on stopping Jacob Copeland, he should have plenty of opportunities Saturday night. Henderson has tremendous speed and the Gamecocks have surrendered long touchdown passes to speed merchants like JaVonta Payton (Tennessee) and Will Sheppard (Vanderbilt) this season. Henderson will be the latest to take the top off the Gamecocks defense on Saturday night.

A Kaiir Elam interception to seal the win for Florida

While I think South Carolina’s ability to run the ball with Harris will keep this one interesting for a while Saturday night, they’ll eventually need to test the Florida secondary to win.

The Gators coverage unit was excellent against Georgia last week, buoyed by the return of safety Rashad Torrence II to the lineup and a healthy Elam locking down one side of the field.

Saturday night, it will be Elam, playing one of his final games as a Gator, who comes up with a big play late to seal a Florida victory.