Gamecocks vs Wildcats NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The Gamecocks have been cruising since being pushed harder than expected in the opener against Vandy.
#6 South Carolina Gamecocks (4-0) vs Kentucky Wildcats (1-3)
Saturday September 29
Commonwealth Stadium – Lexington, KY
7:00PM
Moneyline: South Carolina -1450, Kentucky +950 at TopBet.eu
Spread: South Carolina -21
O/U: 47.5
South Carolina
The most recent proof of their legitimacy was a solid beating of Missouri at home last week. They have some tougher SEC challenges in the weeks to come but should get a relaxing victory against Kentucky before a three game stretch against Georgia, LSU and Florida which will show us how good this team really is.
For a while there it seemed like there was a brewing QB controversy from the Ol’ Ball Coach.
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I think Connor Shaw successfully put that to rest with a near perfect performance last week – literally (he was 20 for 21 throwing). That overshadowed the fact that SC didn’t really move the ball on the ground all that well.
This week is the exactly kind of game to showcase Marcus Lattimore who rushed for more than 100 yards against Kentucky last year.
The more I see of South Carolina the more I like them.
They might be a notch below Alabama and LSU in overall talent but at the top end they can certainly compete.
This week is a chance fine tune a couple of things and I actually think the 21 points you have to give up is pretty decent value because I am not sure Kentucky will score more than 7 or 10 points in total.
Last year they SC beat them 54-3 in Columbia.
Kentucky
Kentucky is probably the worst program in the SEC right now. Their 1-3 start includes a win over Kent State and a loss to Western Kentucky. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Last week they were shutout by Florida who is looking better and better. It is a very real possibility they could be shutout again this week, thought it should be noted that the Wildcats beat South Carolina on their last visit to UK in 2010.
It was the only time they have beat them in the last 10 meetings.
Kentucky has struggled against athletic defenses this year scoring just 14 points combined against Florida and Louisville (all against rival UL). That is a bad omen facing an SC whose defense is on par with the Gators and better in some spots.
Quarterback Maxwell Smith is going to have to be sharper than he has been to date but with the way the Gamecocks rush the passer he is not going to have much time to do it.
If ever there was a time to develop a running game now is it.
The Wildcats are outclassed in the SEC right now and this game is another prime example. They have one of the worst rushing defenses in the league so you can bet they are going to get a healthy dose of Marcus Lattimore until it hurts on their way to another humiliating loss.
There is no reason to expect otherwise.
Spread Pick: South Carolina -21
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: South Carolina 42 – Kentucky 3
