{"id":36524,"date":"2025-08-05T07:16:05","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T11:16:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=36524"},"modified":"2025-08-05T07:16:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T11:16:07","slug":"2025-south-carolina-football-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/college-football\/2025-south-carolina-football-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 South Carolina Football Preview Presented by GoldSheet | SEC Predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A strong defense carried the South Carolina football program to the top tier of the SEC last season, but all eyes are on redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers ahead of the 2025 season. After the Gamecocks sent several players to the NFL in April, Sellers will be asked to elevate the offense this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 South Carolina Football Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SEC Betting Odds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Team<\/strong><\/td>2024 Record<\/strong><\/td>2025 Win Total<\/strong><\/td>SEC Odds<\/strong><\/td>Nat’l Champ Odds<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Alabama<\/td>9-4 (5-3)<\/td>9.5 (o -125 \/ u +105)<\/td>+380<\/td>+1100<\/td><\/tr>
Arkansas<\/td>7-6 (3-5)<\/td>5.5 (o +110 \/ u -130)<\/td>+15000<\/td>+40000<\/td><\/tr>
Auburn<\/td>5-7 (2-6)<\/td>7.5 (o -160 \/ u +135)<\/td>+2800<\/td>+7000<\/td><\/tr>
Florida<\/td>8-5 (4-4)<\/td>7.5 (o +115 \/ u -135)<\/td>+1800<\/td>+4000<\/td><\/tr>
Georgia<\/td>11-3 (6-2)<\/td>9.5 (o -170 \/ u +140)<\/td>+330<\/td>+700<\/td><\/tr>
Kentucky<\/td>4-8 (1-7)<\/td>4.5 (o -115 \/ u -105)<\/td>+25000<\/td>+50000<\/td><\/tr>
LSU<\/td>9-4 (5-3)<\/td>8.5 (o -140 \/ u +120)<\/td>+700<\/td>+1800<\/td><\/tr>
Ole Miss<\/td>10-3 (5-3)<\/td>8.5 (-110)<\/td>+1600<\/td>+4500<\/td><\/tr>
Mississippi St<\/td>2-10 (0-8)<\/td>3.5 (o -160 \/ u +135)<\/td>+50000<\/td>+80000<\/td><\/tr>
Missouri<\/td>10-3 (5-3)<\/td>7.5 (o +130 \/ u -155)<\/td>+6000<\/td>+15000<\/td><\/tr>
Oklahoma<\/td>6-7 (2-6)<\/td>6.5 (o -170 \/ u +140)<\/td>+2800<\/td>+6500<\/td><\/tr>
South Carolina<\/td>9-4 (5-3)<\/td>7.5 (o +125 \/ u -150)<\/td>+2500<\/td>+6000<\/td><\/tr>
Tennessee<\/td>10-3 (6-2)<\/td>8.5 (o +115 \/ u -135)<\/td>+2500<\/td>+6000<\/td><\/tr>
Texas<\/td>13-3 (7-1)<\/td>9.5 (o -170 \/ u +140)<\/td>+270<\/td>+550<\/td><\/tr>
Texas A&M<\/td>8-5 (5-3)<\/td>8.5 (o +125 \/ u -150)<\/td>+1500<\/td>+4000<\/td><\/tr>
Vanderbilt<\/td>7-6 (3-5)<\/td>5.5 (o +130 \/ u -155)<\/td>+20000<\/td>+50000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Odds above courtesy of DraftKings as of July 26. The Gamecocks went 9-4 straight-up and against the spread last season. South Carolina ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak before falling to Illinois in the Citrus Bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 South Carolina Football Roster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Projected Returning Starters<\/strong>: 15 (Seven on offense and five on defense)
Projected Starting QB<\/strong>: LaNorris Sellers (Returning)
Returning Production<\/strong>: 58-percent (66-percent on offense and 49-percent on defense)
Incoming Talent Class<\/strong>: No. 22 Nationally \/ No. 12 in SEC
Coaching Changes<\/strong>: New offensive coordinator Mike Shula was promoted from within after former OC Dowell Loggains was named the head coach at Appalachian State. Shula was a senior offensive assistant on last year’s staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning starters are courtesy of Phil Steele’s 2025 College Football Preview Magazine. Returning production is courtesy of Bill Connelly’s conference preview series at ESPN. Incoming talent rankings are courtesy of 247 Sports’ Composite Ratings, which capture the talent rankings of both incoming freshman and incoming transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alabama<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2024 South Carolina Football Stats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Strength of Schedule<\/strong>: No. 18 (courtesy of Jeff Sagarin)
Turnover Differential<\/strong>: +3 (No. 47 Nationally)
Plays per Game<\/strong>: 71.1 (No. 39)
Seconds per Play<\/strong>: 26.2 (No. 57)
Average Time of Possession<\/strong>: 31:09 (No. 35)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Carolina Football Stats on Offense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yards per Game<\/strong>: 407.8 (No. 45)
Points per Game<\/strong>: 30.5 (No. 47)
Yards per Play<\/strong>: 5.94 (No. 57)
Offensive Success Rate<\/strong>: 42.9-percent (No. 59)
Explosive Plays (20+ Yards)<\/strong>: 71 (No. 23)
Net EPA per Play<\/strong>: +0.15 (No. 23)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Carolina Football Stats on Defense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yards per Game Allowed<\/strong>: 316.6 (No. 16)
Points per Game Allowed<\/strong>: 18.1 (No. 12)
Yards per Play Allowed<\/strong>: 4.84 (No. 14)
Defensive Success Rate<\/strong>: 39.6-percent (No. 53)
Explosive Plays Allowed (20+ Yards)<\/strong>: 47 (No. 30)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Success Rate is an advanced metric that factors in the down and distance in relation to yards gained. A two-yard gain for a running back doesn’t look great in his overall box score, however a two-yard gain on 3rd-and-2 is a successful play. A low success rate on defense means you’re doing a good job of stopping the opponent from achieving successful plays. EPA stands for expected points added per play and it is a measure of how many points a team adds (or loses) on each play compared to the expected value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 South Carolina Football Schedule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"2025<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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