College Football Predictions South Carolina vs Florida: Battle For the SEC East

Oct 18 | by Reggie Brown | College Football

Nothing is guaranteed in college football but in Week 8 when The South Carolina Gamecocks play against the Florida Gators, the winner will undoubtedly be the favorite to win the SEC East.

The Gamecocks are 6-1 overall this year and 4-1 in conference play. The only team that is better is the Gators who are 5-0 in conference and 6-0 overall on the season. Only the Georgia Bulldogs are in striking distance for the division crown, but it is highly unlikely that the Bulldogs will pass up either team.

South Carolina vs Florida Odds: The Gators opened up as (-3) favorites over the Gamecocks and that number has been bumped up to (-3.5) in several offshore outlets. This is despite the fact that the college football consensus shows that 55 percent of the public is betting on Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks. For the most up-to-date College Football Odds on this game check out SportsbettingOnline.ag. Are you getting a 10% weekly rebate on all wins AND Losses? If not you should be. Sign up at Sportsbettingonline.ag today and start getting money back, every week!

If Spurrier is going to beat his former ball club he will have to do it a running back that is not 100% healthy.

South Carolina’s star RB Marcus Lattimore may not start against Florida, according to coach Steve Spurrier. — bit.ly/S5qoVC

— SEC Gridiron LIVE (@SECGridironLIVE) October 18, 2012

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore did not practice Wednesday because of a bruised hip and coach Spurrier said his junior star might not start Saturday against No. 3 Florida. Without Lattimore the Gamecocks are in big trouble against a Gators defense that has shut down opponents in the fourth quarter.

College Football Predictions: South Carolina vs Florida

The Gators on the other hand expect plenty of starters back in the lineup. Coach Will Muschamp said Monday he expects linebacker Jelani Jenkins, defensive end Dominique Easley, center Jon Harrison, guard James Wilson and left tackle Xavier Nixon to play against South Carolina (No. 7 BCS, No. 9 AP) on Saturday.

If the Gators want to win this game they will have to protect quarterback Jeff Driskel, especially from sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney is not at 100 percent either but he is still one of the best defenders in the country. Florida knows they will have to account for Clowney.

“He can ruin your day,’’ Florida coach Will Muschamp said this week. “You’ve got to be able to account for him in the rush and in the run game. You’ve got to have your antenna up to know where he is.”

In 20 career games Clowney already has 24 tackles for loss and 14 ½ sacks. His 6 ½ sacks this season rank third in the SEC and he is already within two of cracking the all-time top five in Gamecocks history.

This will be the best game of Week 8 and the edge will be with South Carolina. The Gators are vastly improved but they still have to prove they can beat good teams on a consistent basis. The Gators are 2-5-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 8 home games and 2-6 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

The Gamecocks are 7-0 ATS when playing a team with a winning record, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games, and 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall.

Spurrier will love to beat his former team in the swamp and score a huge win for the Gamecocks.

College Football Predictions: Gamecocks +3.5

For the most up-to-date College Football Odds on this game check out SportsbettingOnline.ag. Are you getting a 10% weekly rebate on all wins AND Losses? If not you should be. Sign up at Sportsbettingonline.ag today and start getting money back, every week!