Week 9 Spreads: South Carolina vs. Tennessee

October 31, 2009 by DaveB

Keys to Victory: Gamecocks vs Volunteers

South Carolina Gamecocks @ Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday, October 31st – Neyland Stadium – 7:45 PM ET
College Football Spread: Tennessee -5.5, O/U: 40

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South Carolina: The Week That Was

The Gamecocks played poorly against a 2-5 Vanderbilt club on home turf, but fought long enough to scratch out a shaky 14-10 win. Carolina’s defense allowed only three points (Vandy’s one touchdown was a kickoff return), but coach Steve Spurrier’s offense was stuck in molasses for almost all of the night. Down 10-7 early in the fourth quarter and starting a drive on their own 1, the Gamecocks had no assurance that they’d be able to avoid an embarrassing home loss, but in short order, they caught just enough lightning to stave off the upset-minded Commodores. Quarterback Stephen Garcia completed two passes for 66 yards to move Carolina to the Vandy 33. A few plays later, on 3rd and 20 from the 43, Garcia hit his trusted new target, freshman receiver Alshon Jeffery, for a touchdown that allowed the Gamecocks to move to 6-2 on the season.

Tennessee: The Week That Was

The Volunteers and coach Lane Kiffin scored another moral victory against an elite SEC foe, but they couldn’t post a new number in the official “win” column, falling to Alabama by a 12-10 score in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tennessee’s defense, under coordinator Monte Kiffin, is singlehandedly keeping the Vols in games this year. A unit led by super safety Eric Berry thoroughly smothered the Crimson Tide, keeping the No. 2 team in the nation out of the end zone and forcing four field goals – two of them long ones (49 and 50 yards) – from Alabama placekicker Leigh Tiffin. Thanks to a late fumble recovery, a touchdown, and a subsequent recovery of an onside kick, Tennessee gained a chance to steal a win on the road, but Volunteer kicker Daniel Lincoln saw his 45-yard field goal get blocked on the game’s final play by Alabama’s Terrence “Mount” Cody.

The Week That Is:

Despite their 3-4 record, the Vols are indeed gaining in confidence and consistency under the two Kiffins – Lane the son and Monte the father are coaxing all-out efforts from an imperfect but highly motivated team. The squad that was brutally bad in September has become competitive in October. Jonathan Crompton isn’t leaking turnovers the way he had been earlier in the year, and the Vols aren’t giving away free points anymore. This is definitely a team that’s going in the right direction.

South Carolina has also revealed its vulnerabilities. A close-shave win over Vanderbilt indicated that this second-tier program has not found the swagger needed to roll through an SEC schedule. Great SEC teams should crush Vanderbilt, but the Gamecocks almost lost to them at home.
With all this being said, it’s hard to understand why the Vols are favored by more than five points. Tennessee’s offense is improving not because of increased scoring punch, but because of decreased turnovers. South Carolina owns a very good defense in its own right, and Stephen Garcia is a better quarterback than Crompton. Maybe Tennessee ekes out a win, but the Vols definitely won’t cover the spread.

Football Betting Pick: South Carolina +5.5 & Under 40