Forget about Halloween, the scariest item on South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier’s mind has to be the postseason.

To an innocent bystander, the 5-3 Gamecocks look to be in prime position to play a bowl game in December or January.

But, to anyone that knows the history of a program that’s made five holiday trips over the past 13 seasons, it’s never a lock.

After back-to-back Outback Bowl wins over Ohio State in 2000 and 2001 under Lou Holtz, the agony began. In 2002, the Gamecocks sat at 5-3 with the same slate as this year in front of them. Four consecutive losses later, the team was home for the holidays.

The next season was more of the same. Heading into the final three games against the Razorbacks, Gators and Tigers, USC was 5-4 and one more victory sent them bowling. But, the Gamecocks laid an egg in a 28-6 loss at Arkansas before they let a lead slip away in a 24-22 defeat at Florida. And who can forget the infamous 63-17 pasting at home by Clemson.

The 2004 season might have been the most disappointing of all. The Gamecocks had six wins with Florida and Clemson left. After the Gators dismantled USC, the historical brawl with the Tigers left both teams bowl eligible, but school officials decided on no postseason as punishment.

Spurrier arrived in 2005 and slipped into the Independence Bowl after topping Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida late in the year. The next season, USC slid Middle Tennessee State in between Florida and Clemson, which helped the Gamecocks earn seven wins and a berth in the Liberty Bowl.

But Spurrier felt the “chicken curse” last year after starting 6-1 but lost five consecutive games. Despite being bowl eligible, too many SEC teams also qualified for the postseason, and the Gamecocks were left on the outside looking in.

That’s why USC’s toughest stretch of the season begins Saturday when the Volunteers come to Columbia. A victory would make the Gamecocks bowl eligible with Arkansas at home and Florida and Clemson on the road.

Seven wins would guarantee a bowl trip, but the current position is all too eerily familiar for USC.

Tennessee and Arkansas appear down, but the Gamecocks can’t sleep on a pair of teams that have owned them over time. And while beating Florida would be a monumental upset, a Bowden-less Clemson could be ready to hand the bragging rights over this year.

And in the rest of the league, Florida, Georgia and Alabama have already locked up bids with LSU expected to join them very soon. Vanderbilt and Kentucky are in the same situation as USC at five wins. Ole Miss and Auburn are at four, while Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi State will need some miracles to reach six victories.

Spurrier probably won’t plan his winter until the Gamecocks reach seven wins.