Shaw will start, but expect to see both guys play on Saturday afternoon.

Okay, I’ve been debating all day, and I still can’t decide how I feel about this.

Steve Spurrier announced today that Connor Shaw is going to start against Missouri on Saturday. Considering we just found out that he reaggravated an area in his shoulder blade where there was a “crack,” I’m sort of surprised by this. Then again, this is a big game, and I’m fairly certain Connor’s arm would have to fall off before he’d stop campaigning for the start.

Obviously the HBC sees Shaw in practice and I don’t, so I have no idea what he’s looked like recently. Apparently he looked good and the doctors cleared him, so he gets the nod over Dylan Thompson, who has at least proved that he’s a capable backup.

All that being said, I can’t help the nagging fear that this could end poorly. Thus, a short list of pros and cons:

Pros:

• Connor, when healthy, is the better quarterback
• Connor is 10-1 as a starter
• Connor has experience playing against SEC teams
• Connor is a running threat
• Steve has forgotten more about football than I’ll ever know, so I tend to trust his judgement

Cons:

• Connor is likely not 100 percent healthy
• Connor has not played a complete game yet this season
• Dylan may not be the runner Connor is, but he passes really well
• SEC teams are bigger/stronger/faster and Connor could get reinjured (again)
• Dylan seems to have the hot hand, so to speak, and it’s injured

Of course, this could all be a trick and Dylan might end up starting come Saturday. Connor could also struggle/feel a lot of pain this week in practice and not be able to start. Or maybe he’ll start, play lights out, and we’ll all feel silly for doubting the HBC. No matter who gets the start, I’d bet both guys get into the game, especially if we’re either up or down by a lot. Other than that, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see (and hope we can avoid hearing about a nonexistent QB controversy).