Recent Play Details

3% South Carolina ML (7:30 ET): Two weeks ago, I wrote about the task ahead of South Carolina, who was 2-6 SU and needed to win out in order to get bowl eligible. Well, the Gamecocks are now 4-6 SU and halfway home to achieving their goal following wins over Jacksonville State (38-28) and Vanderbilt (47-6), both of which came here in Columbia. Whether it’s the situation or current form, bettors sure seem to be siding with Shane Beamer’s team this week at home vs. floundering Kentucky, who has lost four of five and is in the “dreaded” spot of having just faced Alabama last week (takes a lot out of a team). I agree with the line move but will play South Carolina on the ML. 

Under Beamer, South Carolina has been fantastic as a favorite, going 12-1 SU and 10-3 ATS. That includes 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS this season, the lone non-cover coming as double digit favorites. Meanwhile, it just so happens that UK is 0-3 SU and ATS as an underdog this season. Those three losses came against Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama and were by a combined 74 points. Now South Carolina isn’t as good as any of those teams and, yes, I did play UK last week (as a home dog) against Bama. But I’m willing to admit when I was wrong and I was dead wrong last week taking the points with the Wildcats. They trailed 21-0 in the 1Q and outgained for the game, 444-253. 

These are just two teams trending in very different directions. Kentucky’s lone win over the L5 weeks was against Mississippi State, the second worst team in the SEC. One of their other two conference wins was against Vanderbilt, the worst team in the SEC. Might the Wildcats care more about next week’s home finale (vs. #10 Louisville) than this one? Probably. South Carolina’s bowl eligibility will require not just winning this game but also beating Clemson next week. One step at a time though. The Gamecocks should be feeling good after their most dominant win of the season last week where QB Spencer Rattler threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns. 3% South Carolina ML (Play to -140)