This Saturday the No. 18 South Carolina Gamecocks will finish up their regular season when they go on the road to take on the Clemson Tigers in an in-state showdown that has been dominated by the Tigers. The Gamecocks come in off an easy 69-24 out-of-conference win over Troy, while the Tigers finished up ACC play with a 30-10 win at Wake Forest.
Clemson has won 10 of the last 13 against South Carolina, but the Gamecocks did upset the Tigers 34-17 at home last season. If you are thinking about betting on the game this weekend, the current college football odds have the Gamecocks favored by three points over the Tigers.
South Carolina (8-3, 5-3 SEC)
When freshman running back Marcus Lattimore has it going the Gamecocks are a very difficult team to beat, and over the last two games Lattimore has been nearly unstoppable, rushing for 314 yards and six touchdowns.
The Gamecocks also have a very solid passing game behind quarterback Stephen Garcia and wide out Alshon Jefferey. Garcia comes in completing just over 68 percent of his passes, and has really made some nice improvements in his second full season as the starter. Jefferey has really benefited from the improved play of Garcia, as he comes in with 70 catches for 1,210 yards and seven touchdowns, after catching just 45 passes for 763 yards and six scores all of last season.
The big concern I have for the Gamecocks is how serious they will take this game with Auburn waiting around the corner next week. There is no question that the players and coaches want to win this game against their rival, but if they don’t come in completely focused on beating the Tigers, they are going to struggle to win this game on the road.
 
Clemson (6-5, 4-4 ACC)
The Tigers took advantage of a weak Wake Forest defense to really get the offense going last week, as they piled on 413 yards of total offense and only had to punt twice the entire game. Still this is a Clemson offense that has struggled to score points this season, as they haven’t topped 14 points in their three previous games.
With starting running back Andre Ellington unable to go for a third straight game, backup Jamie Harper stepped in and once again played well, rushing for 142 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Harper has rushed for 345 yards and three touchdowns in place of Ellington, and it is unclear if Ellington will be able to make it back this week to face the Gamecocks.
Quarterback Kyle Parker really looked sharp last week against Wake Forest, completing 15-of-17 for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Parker had just one touchdown and four interceptions in the previous three games.
The Gamecocks have the 97th worst pass defense in the country, allowing 250.5 yards a game this season, but are excellent against the run, giving up just 96 yards a game. That means Parker is going to have to play well if the Tigers are going to keep up and pull off the upset.
 
Looking at the Odds
Because this is a rivalry game, and the Tigers have had so much success against the Gamecocks over the last 10-plus years, I think they come in and really play hard and easily cover the three-point spread. The SEC is by far a better conference than the ACC, so you have to think one of the best teams in the SEC will have no trouble taking down an ACC team that finished just .500 in conference play. My final score prediction is South Carolina 34, Clemson 23.
 
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A key SEC showdown will take place this weekend when the No. 22-ranked Georgia Bulldogs clash with the No. 24-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks.  Georgia romped to a 55-7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend, while the Gamecocks dominated Southern Miss from start to finish in a 41-13 win.  South Carolina has lost four straight games at home against Georgia and the Bulldogs have taken seven of the past eight meetings overall.  The college football lines makers have listed the Gamecocks are a 3.5-point favorite.
Georgia returns 10 starters on offense from a year ago, but the one new starter is quarterback Aaron Murray.  The redshirt freshman was impressive in his debut for the Bulldogs, throwing for 160 yards and three touchdowns versus the over-matched Rajun’ Cajuns.  Head coach Mark Richt kept the play calling simple as most of the completions went for minimal gains.  Murray added another 42 yards rushing and another score.  UGA racked up 184 yards on the ground as a team.  Carlton Thomas led all running backs with 61 yards and veteran Caleb King went for 47 yards plus a touchdown.  The Dawgs will once again be without big play wide receiver AJ Green against South Carolina.  The NCAA ruled he must sit out an additional three games for selling a game jersey worn last year.  Kris Durham will try to pick up some of the lost production.  He had a team-high five catches for 83 yards and a score in the opener.  Converted quarterback Logan Gray also got into the scoring column.  Special teams are a real strength for this team and could play a key role in a hostile environment.  Drew Butler was last season’s Ray Guy award winner and Blair Walsh was a Second Team All-SEC selection.
The ol' ball coach’s first game of the 2010 season went according to plan for the Gamecocks.  They flexed their muscle and showcased overall talent to kick-off the college football season.  Stephen Garcia was a game-time decision to start at quarterback and proved the right decision was made for at least one game.  The senior threw for 193 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.  Spurrier is very high on Connor Shaw at back-up and don’t be shocked to see him used in his game if Garcia struggles.  Running back Marcus Lattimore finally made his long-awaited debut for South Carolina.  Recruiting services ranked him as the top running back coming out of high school.  He rushed for 54 yards and two scores last Thursday.  Sophomore wide receiver Alshon Jeffery seems to have made great strides into becoming an elite player at his position in the SEC.  The lanky Jeffery caught seven passes for 106 yards.  The Cocks will play without tight end Wesley Saunders once again with his ultimate status being determined at a later date.
The public is betting heavy on South Carolina in this matchup.  It has been one of the largest line movements of the weekend.  This most likely has to do with the lengthened suspension of Green and a young quarterback playing in front of a hostile environment for the first time.  Georgia has dominated recently though and they seem to have South Carolina’s number.  I think they will be able to run the ball well enough to stay close and possibly sneak out of Columbia with a victory.
Play: Georgia +3.5
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A key SEC showdown will take place this weekend when the No. 22-ranked Georgia Bulldogs clash with the No. 24-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks.  Georgia romped to a 55-7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend, while the Gamecocks dominated Southern Miss from start to finish in a 41-13 win.  South Carolina has lost four straight games at home against Georgia and the Bulldogs have taken seven of the past eight meetings overall.  The college football lines makers have listed the Gamecocks are a 3.5-point favorite.
Georgia returns 10 starters on offense from a year ago, but the one new starter is quarterback Aaron Murray.  The redshirt freshman was impressive in his debut for the Bulldogs, throwing for 160 yards and three touchdowns versus the over-matched Rajun’ Cajuns.  Head coach Mark Richt kept the play calling simple as most of the completions went for minimal gains.  Murray added another 42 yards rushing and another score.  UGA racked up 184 yards on the ground as a team.  Carlton Thomas led all running backs with 61 yards and veteran Caleb King went for 47 yards plus a touchdown.  The Dawgs will once again be without big play wide receiver AJ Green against South Carolina.  The NCAA ruled he must sit out an additional three games for selling a game jersey worn last year.  Kris Durham will try to pick up some of the lost production.  He had a team-high five catches for 83 yards and a score in the opener.  Converted quarterback Logan Gray also got into the scoring column.  Special teams are a real strength for this team and could play a key role in a hostile environment.  Drew Butler was last season’s Ray Guy award winner and Blair Walsh was a Second Team All-SEC selection.
The ol' ball coach’s first game of the 2010 season went according to plan for the Gamecocks.  They flexed their muscle and showcased overall talent to kick-off the college football season.  Stephen Garcia was a game-time decision to start at quarterback and proved the right decision was made for at least one game.  The senior threw for 193 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.  Spurrier is very high on Connor Shaw at back-up and don’t be shocked to see him used in this game if Garcia struggles.  Running back Marcus Lattimore finally made his long-awaited debut for South Carolina.  Recruiting services ranked him as the top running back coming out of high school.  He rushed for 54 yards and two scores last Thursday.  Sophomore wide receiver Alshon Jeffery seems to have made great strides into becoming an elite player at his position in the SEC.  The lanky Jeffery caught seven passes for 106 yards.  The Cocks will play without tight end Wesley Saunders once again with his ultimate status being determined at a later date.
The public is betting heavy on South Carolina in this matchup.  It has been one of the largest line movements of the weekend.  This most likely has to do with the lengthened suspension of Green and a young quarterback playing in front of a hostile environment for the first time.  Georgia has dominated recently though, and they seem to have South Carolina’s number.  I think they will be able to run the ball well enough to stay close and possibly sneak out of Columbia with a victory.
Play: Georgia +3.5
Get expert college football picks from the top handicappers in the business at Locksmith.  No site provides more winners than Jimmy Boyd and company!Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

A key SEC showdown will take place this weekend when the No. 22-ranked Georgia Bulldogs clash with the No. 24-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks.  Georgia romped to a 55-7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend, while the Gamecocks dominated Southern Miss from start to finish in a 41-13 win.  South Carolina has lost four straight games at home against Georgia and the Bulldogs have taken seven of the past eight meetings overall.  The college football lines makers have listed the Gamecocks are a 3.5-point favorite.
Georgia returns 10 starters on offense from a year ago, but the one new starter is quarterback Aaron Murray.  The redshirt freshman was impressive in his debut for the Bulldogs, throwing for 160 yards and three touchdowns versus the over-matched Rajun’ Cajuns.  Head coach Mark Richt kept the play calling simple as most of the completions went for minimal gains.  Murray added another 42 yards rushing and another score.  UGA racked up 184 yards on the ground as a team.  Carlton Thomas led all running backs with 61 yards and veteran Caleb King went for 47 yards plus a touchdown.  The Dawgs will once again be without big play wide receiver AJ Green against South Carolina.  The NCAA ruled he must sit out an additional three games for selling a game jersey worn last year.  Kris Durham will try to pick up some of the lost production.  He had a team-high five catches for 83 yards and a score in the opener.  Converted quarterback Logan Gray also got into the scoring column.  Special teams are a real strength for this team and could play a key role in a hostile environment.  Drew Butler was last season’s Ray Guy award winner and Blair Walsh was a Second Team All-SEC selection.
The ol' ball coach’s first game of the 2010 season went according to plan for the Gamecocks.  They flexed their muscle and showcased overall talent to kick-off the college football season.  Stephen Garcia was a game-time decision to start at quarterback and proved the right decision was made for at least one game.  The senior threw for 193 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.  Spurrier is very high on Connor Shaw at back-up and don’t be shocked to see him used in this game if Garcia struggles.  Running back Marcus Lattimore finally made his long-awaited debut for South Carolina.  Recruiting services ranked him as the top running back coming out of high school.  He rushed for 54 yards and two scores last Thursday.  Sophomore wide receiver Alshon Jeffery seems to have made great strides into becoming an elite player at his position in the SEC.  The lanky Jeffery caught seven passes for 106 yards.  The Cocks will play without tight end Wesley Saunders once again with his ultimate status being determined at a later date.
The public is betting heavy on South Carolina in this matchup.  It has been one of the largest line movements of the weekend.  This most likely has to do with the lengthened suspension of Green and a young quarterback playing in front of a hostile environment for the first time.  Georgia has dominated recently though, and they seem to have South Carolina’s number.  I think they will be able to run the ball well enough to stay close and possibly sneak out of Columbia with a victory.
Play: Georgia +3.5
Get expert college football picks from the top handicappers in the business at Locksmith.  No site provides more winners than Jimmy Boyd and company!Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com