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South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Florida Gators Gambling Prediction & Week 8 Preview

Gamecocks vs Gators NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping

The SEC has seen shakeups near the top of the BCS all season—with the exception of No. 1 Alabama—and with the No. 2 Gators hosting the seventh-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks, football fans will have another great matchup in store for them this Saturday.

No. 7 South Carolina Gamecocks (6-1) vs No. 2 Florida Gators (6-0)
Saturday October 20, 2012
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, GAINESVILL, FL
3:30 PM ET
Moneyline: Florida -150, South Carolina +130 from SportsBettingOnline.ag
Spread: Florida -3
O/U: 42

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These two teams are both pushing for a national championship, and a win this weekend will do wonders for their chances this season.

South Carolina Gamecocks

The South Carolina Gamecocks are facing their third-straight top-10 opponent this weekend, and after barely falling to LSU last week, they’re looking for a huge bounce-back victory to improve their chances among the top of a tough SEC.

The Gamecocks run their offense mostly through running back Marcus Lattimore, but adding balance to their attack will be crucial to their success against Florida. Wide receiver Damiere Byrd has been somewhat of a go-to option on offense, as he’s averaging 25.3 yards per catch.

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The Florida defense is going to be ready for the rushing attack, so good play-action execution will help set up their passing game.

That doesn’t mean, however, that they can ignore Lattimore all together. Lattimore’s worst performance of the year came in the team’s only loss. This is why balance is going to be key, as a one-dimensional offense won’t stump a Florida defense that is allowing just 12.3 points per game.

Florida Gators

The Florida Gators have back-to-back opponents in the top 11 coming up, and it begins with South Carolina this weekend.

Coming off their win against Vanderbilt, the Gators showed that quarterback Jeff Driskel can be a huge threat in the running game. Having rushed for 177 yards, his big plays on the ground made up for inconsistent play through the air.

That’s been the story for most of this season. Their passing game has been downright awful at times, having averaged only 145 yards per game (118th in the nation). On the ground, however, the team is the 14th best in the country, as they’ve racked up 233.3 yards per contest. If the Gators are going to pull one out against South Carolina, it’s going to be in the ground game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

If you’re going to pick an upset this week, this is the one to choose. The Gators’ offense has been limited to the run all season, and if the Gamecocks can shut it down early, they’ll have a chance to pull ahead late. Both defenses have been outstanding all year, but without the home-field advantage, South Carolina must take the energy out of the crowd. If Lattimore struggles, they must establish a second option, but they can’t be scared away from the run altogether—balance is key.

Don’t expect either team to run away with this one, but if the Gamecocks can pass the ball efficiently, they should prove to be more dynamic than the Gators come Saturday.

Trends

  • Gamecocks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 conference games.
  • Gamecocks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
  • Gamecocks are 7-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Gamecocks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
  • Gamecocks are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. loss.
  • Gamecocks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Under is 4-1 in Gamecocks last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
  • Under is 4-0 in Gators last 4 home games.
  • Under is 6-1 in Gators last 7 games on grass.
  • Under is 5-1 in Gators last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.

O/U Pick: Under 42
Score Prediction: South Carolina 21 – Florida 17

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"