Two weeks ago it would have come as no surprise if the LSU Tigers decided today’s game against the South Carolina Gamecocks was no big deal.

The schedule gave the then-undefeated Tigers a game at Florida on Oct. 11 with a home contest against Georgia looming two weeks later, meaning today’s 8 p.m. contest on ESPN with the Gamecocks appeared to be nothing more than a overlook sandwich.

But, No. 14 LSU (4-1, 2-1 SEC) did something it’s rarely done in Miles’ three years with the program: get blown out. The Tigers fell behind 20-7 early in “The Swamp” but drew with six points before the defense crumbled and the offense had no response in a 51-21 demoralizing loss.

“I think they have been around here long enough to know that not one game does a season make, but I think there is a sense of urgency with preparing this week and winning this week,” Miles said. “That’s what I want. That’s the focus I want.”

USC (5-2, 2-2) knows an angry Tiger has been awakened.

“They’re going to feel like they’ve got something to prove because they lost last weekend,” USC cornerback and return specialist Captain Munnerlyn said. “I told (USC linebacker) Jasper (Brinkley) they’re gonna be mad. They’re gonna come in here and make it a physical battle and get after us. So, we got to make it a physical battle first.”

Now, the entire LSU team has turned its attention on a Gamecock squad that is flying under the radar no more with Miles.

“South Carolina, in my opinion, is a very talented, 5-2 team, a team that leads the conference in defense, third in the nation in defense, plays a very good scheme, and has a big, strong force unit,” Miles said. “I think they’re playing with great effort and enthusiasm. I think they get to the ball.”

The Gamecock defense will look to stop a team that ranks second in the league in total offense, including running back Charles Scott and his 570 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

But USC’s confidence is high after back-to-back road wins over Ole Miss and Kentucky, and quarterback Stephen Garcia emerged as a playmaker after the come-from-behind 24-17 win over the Wildcats.

“Garcia is a runner and a very good passer,” Miles said. “They move the ball to several different receivers. They’ve always had the ability to read the coverage and get it to the open guy, and that’s an advantage for them.”

The redshirt freshman threw for 169 yards on 10-for-14 passing and a touchdown after starter Chris Smelley was pulled through nearly three quarters.

USC coach Steve Spurrier quickly named Garcia the starter, something the young quarterback said he’s nervous about with the defensive-minded Tigers on the slate.

“Learning to be a quarterback in the SEC is probably one of the most difficult things I’ve had to teach myself,” Garcia said. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and not try to figure it all out too fast.

“I’m learning every single day through practice, getting more reps than I ever have before. They say practice makes perfect and I’m just trying to practice what I’m supposed to do in the games.”

What impressed Spurrier the most about Garcia’s performance last week was the way he read Kentucky’s defense.

“He can throw the ball beautifully as we found out last week,” Spurrier said. “He can move around a bit, and it was encouraging. He actually checked out two receivers sometimes, which is unusual around here, to check out if this guy’s covered hit the other one. We all gained a lot of confidence in his performance last week but again, it was one game. The potential’s there, but the guys around him have got to play better.”

Playing better is exactly what the Gamecocks will need to do as the level of competition is rising dramatically in a conference race they’re not quite out of as every team in the East has already recorded at least one league loss.

And after receiving praise last year for just hanging in with the then-No. 2 Tigers in Baton Rouge in a 28-16 loss, the goal is much larger today at home.

“It is LSU,” Garcia said, “they’ve got some of the best athletes in the country obviously, they won the national championship last year. But I definitely think we can beat them, but I think we can beat anybody so we just got to go out there and play.”