College Football Futures: Head coach Steve Spurrier enters his tenth season with the South Carolina Gamecocks as their most successful coach and the man that has led them to their only era of sustained excellence, if not glory, in their history. The Gamecocks have posted three consecutive 11 win seasons and will be among the top choices to win the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks opened as a 25/1 choice to win the BCS national championship and at 5/1 to win the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina opened with an over under win total of 9.5.
Experienced Lineup
South Carolina has 8 returning starters on offense and 6 on defense. Senior Dylan Thompson will be a starter for the first time but has plenty of fill in game experience as the backup to departed QB Connor Shaw. South Carolina has been developed into one of the better defensive teams in the nation and ranked 19th overall nationally last year while ranking 12th for points allowed.
Handicapper’s Notes
South Carolina has covered the spread in 13 out of their last 20 home games with 7 out of their last 11 home games going over the total. The Gamecocks have covered the spread in 10 out of their last 18 away games with just 8 out of their last 18 away games going over the total. South Carolina has covered 11 out of their last 19 games as a favorite with 5 out of their last 8 games as a chalk going under the total. The Gamecocks have paid out in 12 out of their last 19 games as a dog with 9 out of their last 12 games as a dog going over the total.
Our Prognosis
South Carolina has reached unprecedented heights under Spurrier but is yet to win the elusive SEC title that was the Old Ball Coach’s original goal upon taking up the challenge of coaching at USC. The Gamecocks still lack some of the depth of the top SEC teams such as Alabama and have often lacked the game breaking type of players on offense that can make plays in the clutch. The Gamecocks 23-21 loss at a subpar Tennessee team is indicative of their incomplete body of work. The Gamecocks will be in the thick of the SEC race but are not our call to win it.
