Kentucky’s ecstasy is South Carolina’s misery right now.

Yep, the Gamecocks did it again.

Somehow -- inexplicably -- they found a way to lose 31-28 Saturday to the Wildcats, who deserve all the credit in the world for continuing to believe in themselves and hanging in there after losing three straight games.

But even in the morbid history of South Carolina gags, this one might top all the rest.

The Gamecocks, fresh off their takedown of No. 1-ranked Alabama last week, led 21-7 at one point against the Wildcats and looked like they were going to avoid the curse that has derailed so many teams the week after winning an epic game.

But there was a bigger, more ominous curse at work here -- the Chicken Curse.

How else do you explain Stephen Garcia under-throwing a ball so badly with the safety coming over when the Gamecocks were already in position for a 37-yard field goal attempt?

If you’re going to take a shot there at the end zone in the final seconds, go ahead. But if it’s not there, throw the ball into the fifth row of the stands, kick the field goal and take your chances in overtime.

That’s not how the Gamecocks roll, though, and it’s a movie their long-suffering fans have seen over and over again.