Two SEC powerhouses are ready to make a statement this weekend as No. 16 LSU heads to Columbia to take on unranked South Carolina in a crucial Week 3 matchup. Both teams are looking to solidify their positions in the early season with the Gamecocks riding high on a two-game win streak and LSU fighting to avoid slipping below .500.
South Carolina enters this game in top form, sitting at 1-0 in SEC play after dominating Kentucky 31-6 last week. That win catapulted the Gamecocks into sole possession of first place in the SEC standings, making them the only school in the conference with a conference win thus far. A victory on Saturday would mark South Carolina’s first 3-0 start since 2012, when they finished the season 11-2.
“College GameDay Built by The Home Depot” is set to broadcast live from Columbia this Saturday, spotlighting the much-anticipated clash between LSU and South Carolina. The show, steered by host Rece Davis, will feature insights from Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, and guests including Nick Saban, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Pete Thamel, with sideline reporting by Jen Lada and Jess Sims. Catch all the action from 9 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN and ESPNU.
Fans eager to join in person can head to Gamecock Park in Columbia. The area opens to fans at 6:30 a.m. ET, with the final hour of the show transitioning inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
College Game Day Map by ESPN
On the other side, LSU has been inconsistent. After a tough opening loss to USC, the Tigers narrowly escaped with a win over Nicholls last week. At 1-1, LSU is in Brian Kelly’s third year at the helm and desperately needs a win to stay in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. A loss here would leave the Tigers reeling as they attempt to regain their early-season momentum.
What the Experts Say
Analytics are predicting a tight game. The SP+ prediction model, which is a tempo- and opponent-adjusted system for measuring football efficiency, gives LSU the edge by a narrow margin. According to the SP+ simulations, LSU is expected to win 31-27, with the Tigers given a 59 percent chance of victory. The model predicts a margin of just 3.6 points, highlighting how close this matchup could be.
The prediction from Crime and Cask News is Gamecocks win by 3. The key to the game will be the Gamecock defense, led by true freshman edge rusher Dylan Stewart has been a dominating force on the Gamecocks on defense. He has been going viral on social media for how dominant he has looked against both Old Dominion and Kentucky, and people are raving about him, and rightfully so.
Betting Odds
FanDuel Sportsbook has LSU favored by 6.5 points, with the over/under set at 48.5. The moneyline odds for LSU are set at -260, while South Carolina sits at +210. For bettors, the advice would be to consider South Carolina to cover the spread at +6.5, but LSU is still the favorite to win outright.
Other models, such as ESPN’s College Football Power Index, also favor LSU but by a smaller margin, giving them a 51.3 percent chance to win compared to South Carolina’s 48.7 percent. The index projects a tight game, with LSU winning by just 0.4 points, suggesting it could be a nail-biter at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday.
Game Time
The LSU-South Carolina showdown is scheduled for Saturday, September 14th, with kickoff at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT) on ABC. This is a pivotal game for both programs, as LSU looks to avoid an early-season slide, and South Carolina seeks to extend their perfect record.
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