The Tennessee Volunteers hit the road to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in college football action Saturday night. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on the SEC Network. Currently the odds for the game have the Gamecocks favored by a touchdown to get the win.
Tennessee and South Carolina have both underachieved this season, but the Gamecocks started the year ranked inside the Top 10 nationally. Tennessee still doesn't have a win inside the SEC yet this season, going 0-4 on the schedule. South Carolina has a 4-4 record overall but is just 2-4 in the conference action.
One team will win tonight, at least. South Carolina has been good defensively the past few seasons, but this year can't get opposing teams off the field. The Gamecocks are giving up nearly 33 points per game to their opposition this year while scoring only 35 points per game themselves. While the offense can put up points, if the defense is giving up nearly the same amount, it can make for some close games with a couple of plays determining the game. That's the case for South Carolina, as they own single possession losses to Missouri, Kentucky and Auburn this season. Even a 2-1 mark during that time would put the Gamecocks solidly in the Top 25 with a 6-3 record overall and a 4-3 mark in the SEC. But 2-4 is not a good place to be.
Steve Spurrier's team can win their next three games, however, and still find themselves in a mid-tier bowl game. Tennessee has come close in many games this season and competes well on the football field, but they haven't been able to find a way to win a big game. The Volunteers own wins this season over Utah State, Arkansas State and Chattanooga — not exactly the cream of the crop.
Maybe their best played game came in a loss to Georgia on the road back in September, but since then the Vols are only 1-3 and they've been beaten up physically. Tennessee does not run the football well and if they are forced to throw it consistently tonight, they could be in a bad situation.
South Carolina has some good offensive production this season. Dylan Thompson has put up some big numbers through the air and Mike Davis gives them a solid threat in the running game, but the only way South Carolina can win football games is if their defense shows up to play.
With as bad as Tennessee has been this season, a loss here for the Gamecocks would certainly be a tough one. It's in Columbia, on a Saturday night, and the Gamecock crowd should be fired up and ready to go. They're the better football team and it will take a better defensive effort to get the win, but that should happen in this one.
Free Pick: South Carolina 34, Tennessee 24
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