The Tennessee Volunteers and South Carolina Gamecocks will go at it on the grass at Williams-Brice Stadium. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to SEC Network.
Betting Preview: South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee is playing the role of underdog and is currently getting 8 points in this SEC game. The Volunteers are also receiving +250 moneyline odds while the Gamecocks are -330. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 53.5 points, and if one team can find paydirt early, it would probably create a nice betting opportunity in-game.
The Volunteers are 3-4 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 4.0 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U mark of 4-3.
The Gamecocks are down 1.1 units this season. The team is 3-3 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Volunteers are 3-4 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against SEC opponents. The Gamecocks are 3-3 SU overall and 2-3 SU in conference play.
The Volunteers fell to Alabama 58-21 in a thumping where the Volunteers completed 14-of-25 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Keller Chryst went nine-for-15 for 164 yards and two touchdowns while Jarrett Guarantano completed five-of-10 for 63 yards. Tim Jordan (50 rushing yards on 14 attempts) led the running attack while Jauan Jennings (six receptions, 102 yards) and Chandler (three catches, 39 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
South Carolina narrowly fell 26-23 to Texas A&M back in Week 7. Jake Bentley completed 17-of-35 passes for 223 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Ty’Son Williams (48 yards on seven rush attempts) spearheaded the running game as Deebo Samuel (seven receptions, 88 yards, one TD) and Bryan Edwards (four catches, 42 yards) led the receiving corps in the loss.
Tennessee has run the ball on 63.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while South Carolina has a rush percentage of 48.9 percent. The Volunteers have produced 140.7 rush yards per game (including 80.3 per game against Southeastern opponents) and have 10 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Gamecocks are totaling 153.7 rushing yards per game (131.8 in conference) and have five total rush TDs.
It seems like the Gamecocks might own an edge in all aspects of the ground game. Their backfield has generated 4.5 yards per carry while the defense has allowed a YPC of 4.2 to opponents. The Volunteers have registered 3.6 yards per carry while allowing 4.6 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Vols offense has logged 209.9 yards per game through the air overall (226.5 per game against conference opposition) and has nine passing scores so far. The Gamecocks have recorded 250.3 pass yards per game (242 in the SEC) and have 15 total pass TDs.
Tennessee has let opponents rush for an average of 162.0 yards and pass for 223.1 yards per game. The South Carolina defense has allowed 199.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 179.2 yards per game on the ground. The Gamecocks are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.45 to opposing QBs, while the Volunteers have given up a 7.07 ANY/A.
Scarnecchia has managed to complete 27-of-47 passes for 338 yards, four TDs and zero INTs. Scarnecchia’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 7.82 for the year and 8.33 over his past two outings. In the other huddle, Jarrett Guarantano has amassed 864 passing yards this season, and has completed 64-of-103 attempts with four passing touchdowns and two interceptions. Guarantano has a 6.82 ANY/A, including 7.98 over the last two games.
These two teams met a year ago with the final outcome being a 15-9 victory for South Carolina.
Tennessee Volunteers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Pick
SU Winner: Tennessee, ATS Winner: Tennessee, O/U: Over
