Depending on your perspective, either this is a runaway in which Clemson can rest its starters in the first half — and still cover the spread — or South Carolina has its best team in at least three years and will challenge the Tigers like it hasn’t under Will Muschamp.

There is talk of a gap closing between the teams, even though another loss would mark the most in a row (five) to Clemson since the Gamecocks lost seven straight games from 1934-40.

It’s a classic matchup that features an upstart offense in South Carolina against one of the country’s best defenses. The Gamecocks have averaged nearly 43 points in their past three games and are looking for a measuring stick against a Clemson defense that leads the FBS in fewest points allowed per game at 12.1.

Here are 10 bold predictions for the South Carolina-Clemson game:

1. South Carolina will cover the spread by halftime

The line opened at Clemson favored by 25.5 and had inched up from there by the middle of the week. But the Tigers have struggled this season against the number, going 6-5 overall and just 2-4 at home. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, are 6-4 overall and 3-1 on the road. One of the biggest differences between this South Carolina team and the last two is that the Gamecocks can move the ball, even against good defenses. That may be why the over/under opened at 58 points.

2. Tanner Muse will make 2 picks

The Clemson safety is the best player in the secondary and has 8 and 10 tackles the last two games, respectively. He also leads the team with 2 interceptions. He has 31 tackles in eight ACC games and will receive a test from South Carolina’s experienced receivers. He had 5 tackles in this game two years ago and 2 last season. So he knows what to expect with this rivalry atmosphere. What’s more, Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley continues to lead the SEC in interceptions and will likely find himself trailing in the game.

3. The Gamecocks will double their recent sack output … at least

South Carolina has had just 1 sack in each of the last two games against Clemson. But the team this year has registered at least 2 each week for the last five games.

The Gamecocks have four players with at least 2 sacks, and Javon Kinlaw and D.J. Wonnum, arguably the most feared pass rushers, are both healthy again.

4. Dabo won’t drop a five-bomb, but someone will

A topic of discussion this week has been pictures of Gamecocks fans posing for pictures with Dabo Swinney and flashing a “five-bomb,” signifying the five-game winning streak South Carolina held up until 2013. While Swinney said he won’t flash a “five-bomb” if Clemson scores a victory and extends Clemson’s series winning streak, look for that gesture to be alive and well at Death Valley in the celebration after Clemson’s win.

5. Jake Bentley will finally play well

It’s no secret that Bentley has struggled in both meetings with Clemson in his career, including a leg injury two years ago. Last year, he was 16-for-29 for 126 yards with a TD and 2 interceptions. That was his fewest yards in a single game last season and second-worst game by completion percentage. Two years ago, he was 7-for-17 for 41 yards and an interception. He’s arguably playing the best football of his career, and it’ll be enough to keep the game close for a while.

6. Dakereon Joyner will make a surprising play

It may come at the 10-yard line, or at the end of the first half, but South Carolina’s freshman quarterback will raise some eyebrows in Memorial Stadium, just by his very presence. He has played in only one game this season, so he could still play against Clemson, Akron and the bowl game and preserve a redshirt. Since he played last week, he has already gotten his feet wet. South Carolina needs a wrinkle to even have a chance, and Joyner will be it.

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

7. Travis Etienne will be a difference maker

The Clemson running back had just 9 carries for 41 yards in last year’s game with a TD. But Etienne against a suspect South Carolina rushing defense is a mismatch. Etienne has had three games with 3 TDs this season and four games with at least 150 rushing yards.

This matchup is illustrated by two stats: Etienne is seventh in America in yards per carry at 7.5, and South Carolina is No. 93 in run defense.

8. South Carolina will force rare turnovers

The Gamecocks are minus-3 in turnover margin, and they’ve only forced 4 fumbles and had 6 interceptions. Trevor Lawrence is in his first rivalry game at home, and he has been smooth so far this season since he took over the starting job at quarterback. But Lawrence has thrown just 2 interceptions and had only two games in which he has completed less than 60 percent of his passes. Each side is due for a change.

9. The Gamecocks’ freshman sensation will do it again

South Carolina seemingly has had a different running back shine each week up and down the depth chart. Only Rico Dowdle has led the team in rushing more than once the last six games. Last week, it was freshman Deshaun Fenwick who torched Chattanooga for 17 carries and 112 yards with a TD. Look for Fenwick to make another splash as the coaching staff will call his number to see if lightning strikes twice.

10. Hunter Renfrow won’t make an impact

The golden boy of the Clemson program since the national championship-winning catch against Alabama, and probably before that, suffered a nasty head injury last week on a diving attempt to catch a pass. Swinney wouldn’t characterize the injury as a concussion, but when the coach calls the popular player day to day and is “hoping for the best,” it’s not a realistic outlook to shine in Death Valley. He had 4 catches for 75 yards and 2 TDs last year against South Carolina, but a silver-screen finish won’t materialize this time.