CCN Sports South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Preview: Stopping Bama’s Talented Lineup is Key
South Carolina Gamecock, LaNorris Sellers has been limited as a passer, and last week highlighted how the Gamecocks can struggle when he’s forced to throw frequently. Against Ole Miss, he attempted 33 passes but only managed 162 yards. His season passing grade stands at 51.4, with three big-time throws and seven turnover-worthy plays.
For South Carolina to succeed on offense, they need to establish the ground game. Rahiem Sanders, who transferred from Arkansas, has shown promise, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, though injuries have hindered him. Despite what the stats suggest, the Gamecocks’ offensive line is solid and should support Sanders and Sellers on the ground.
Sellers also adds value as a mobile quarterback. Alabama has struggled against runners, evident from their performance against Byrum Brown of USF, who rushed for 108 yards. This could be an area where Sellers makes an impact.
Defensively, the Gamecocks returned several players but have had trouble stopping the run, ranking 78th nationally in Rush Success Rate allowed. Alabama’s talented backfield will test them, even though the Tide has not excelled in the ground game this season.
CCN Sports Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Preview: Offense Should Be Able to Move Seamlessly
Last weekend’s upset in Nashville highlighted the vulnerabilities in Alabama’s defense, particularly in the secondary. Diego Pavia’s big game exposed their struggles, and they now rank 39th in Rush Explosiveness allowed, which could be exploited by South Carolina’s ground attack.
Third downs have also been a problem for Alabama’s defense, allowing Vanderbilt to convert 12-of-18 last week. With a Power Success Rate of 50th nationally, they could face challenges against South Carolina’s 21st-ranked Power Success Rate.
Offensively, Alabama needs to lean into its rushing game. Although they averaged just four yards per carry against Vanderbilt, getting the ball to Jam Miller, who’s averaging 8.2 yards per carry, could unlock more opportunities.
Jalen Milroe faces a formidable South Carolina secondary, but he’s been outstanding, boasting an 82.7% adjusted completion percentage and averaging 11.6 yards per attempt. Expect Milroe to keep the offense moving on Saturday.
Matchup Analysis: South Carolina vs. Alabama
| Metric | Gamecocks | Crimson Tide | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush Success | 85 | 78 | Alabama |
| Line Yards | 92 | 76 | Alabama |
| Pass Success | 4 | 9 | Alabama |
| Havoc | 83 | 15 | Gamecocks |
| Finishing Drives | 5 | 60 | Alabama |
| Quality Drives | 53 | 36 | Gamecocks |
While South Carolina has the defensive prowess to challenge Alabama, their struggle against the run could be costly. The Gamecocks must control the pace, establish their ground game, and contain Alabama’s offense if they hope to upset the Crimson Tide.
What the South Carolina Gamecocks Must do
The key challenge for South Carolina Gamecocks lies in containing Alabama’s explosive wide receiver Ryan Williams, who has been a game-changer this season with an impressive average of 28.6 yards per catch and six touchdowns. Although South Carolina’s corners have respectable PFF Coverage grades of 75.2 and 80.1, they’ve been vulnerable, allowing over ten yards per catch and missing seven tackles combined. To have a shot at victory, South Carolina must establish a solid ground game. Alabama has shown susceptibility to big plays on the ground, and LaNorris Sellers’ mobility could mirror Byrum Brown’s previous success against the Tide. Although both teams focus on the run, the game likely won’t be too slow-paced. While Alabama’s ground game has been underwhelming, it should be able to leverage its physicality up front and create opportunities for Jam Miller. With a projected total of 57.9 points, this matchup could exceed expectations, especially considering Alabama overs are 4-1 under Coach DeBoer.
Our prediction is that we will see Shane Beamer in his presser telling us that his team has to do better, and that starts with him as the head coach. Gamecocks get blown out, 49-7. This is Shane Beamers final year coaching this talented team that cannot win. That’s if he makes it through the season. The Beamer experiment is over unless results are produced.
