Blake Krass
South Carolina was +105 late Tuesday night on the moneyline and this line quickly moved across zero and made SC a small favorite. I would play this on the spread up to -3 or -130 on the ML.
South Carolina undoubtedly went into this season with low expectations after the rough last couple of years under Muschamp but I was personally a huge fan of the Beamer hire and the staff that he built. All indications from players and media are that the players really want to play hard for Beamer and that can’t be quantified compared to a roster that had quit on Will Muschamp last season. The Cocks dominated their Week One matchup vs Eastern Illinois, shutting out the Panthers and covering the large spread. They did that without star RB Kevin Harris (last year’s SEC rushing leader), starting QB Luke Doty, and two defensive starters. Yesterday, Doty said he “expects to be 100% on Saturday” and Beamer said Doty should “see significant action.” Kevin Harris is also due to return so this Gamecocks offense should be able to move the ball efficiently and use their superior athletes on the offensive line to run the ball effectively and own the clock.
ECU didn’t look impressive at all in their opening game against App State, not covering the 10-point spread as dogs. This ECU defense was 102nd in total defense last season and did not look improved at all, allowing 33 points and 226 rushing yards to App State last week. They showed how vulnerable their run defense was and that plays right into South Carolina’s hands. S&P+ makes this line South Carolina -5.5 and there is no reason ECU should fail to cover as 10 point dogs to App State and a coinflip with South Carolina the next week. Take the better athletes and the better coaching staff here to just win the game.
