COLUMBIA --- A frustrated Les Miles snapped on the tape of Louisiana State University's worst loss in six years the day after it happened, poised to find problems galore with his national champs. But by the time he finished, the Tigers coach had uncovered more hope than worry.

Miles painstakingly replayed each down, no matter how painful to watch his team's 51-21 defeat at Florida last Saturday night, and marked down the number of each player he saw give superlative effort. By the end, "my sheet was full," Miles said. "Guys that fight like that, they have confidence."

Miles expects that, and not the 13th-ranked Tigers' stunning defeat, to carry his team into tonight's game at surprising South Carolina.

LSU's try for a second consecutive crown took a serious hit against the Gators. A similar effort at Williams-Brice Stadium against the Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) could leave LSU (4-1, 1-1) too far behind in the SEC title race as well.

After falling behind Florida 20-0, the Tigers got within a touchdown of the lead early in the third quarter. But it was undone by too many mistakes (a fumble and two interceptions).

South Carolina certainly has let its early offensive struggles set it back this season.

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier was throwing his notes in frustration after many plays, often for more yards than his offense had gained.

South Carolina's offense had sunk near the bottom of the SEC, losing to Vanderbilt and Georgia in September. Spurrier shuffled quarterbacks, receivers, linemen and tailbacks, all with little success.

Something clicked the past few weeks, though. The Gamecocks rallied twice, at Ole Miss (31-24) and Kentucky (24-17), to fashion a four-game stretch that suddenly has them -- with a break or two -- sneaking back in the SEC Eastern Division chase.

A big part of the Wildcat win was freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia, who came on in the second half to throw for 169 yards and the winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

The performance brought Garcia the league's Freshman of the Week award, praise from Spurrier and his first starting assignment today vs. LSU.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn says beating LSU would be huge, but Spurrier had the players focused simply on improving their own play rather than worried about a high-profile opponent.

"Coach Spurrier, he did something new for the first time here," Munnerlyn said. "He saying stuff like we're worrying about ourselves right now. I like that in coach."

Munnerlyn remembers watching some of Florida's blowout last week and telling roommate, linebacker Jasper Brinkley, that LSU was going to be "maaaad. They're going to come in here and make it a physical battle. So you know what we've got to do, make it a physical battle first."