The Citrus Bowl pits two AP Top 25 programs against each other as South Carolina and Illinois clash in Orlando, FL at Camping World Stadium this afternoon. Coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
My South Carolina vs. Illinois predictions and college football picks for Tuesday, December 31 acknowledge both teams are without stars on offense, but the Gamecocks will be without the heart and soul of their defense, so I’m expecting Bret Bielema’s team to take advantage and put up a serious fight.
South Carolina vs Illinois prediction and best bet
My best bet
Illinois +10 (-110 at BetMGM)
Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds.
My analysis
If South Carolina was at full strength, it would be difficult to feel overly confident in it covering as double-digit favorites. That’s why it’s a bit head-scratching to see them being offered at -10 with Sanders and Kennard set to sit the game out.
Sanders leads the team in scrimmage yards (1,197) and touchdowns (13) with the next most yards from scrimmage coming from Sellers. The Gamecocks just don’t have many other reliable weapons.
And Kennard not being on the field is an even bigger hit. Not only does he lead the team in TFLs (16) and sacks (11.5), but he’s also the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner.
There’s also a chance future NFL draft picks like Nick Emmanwori, TJ Sanders, and Tonya Hemingway will see limited action for the sake of keeping them healthy — similar to Cam Ward with Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Meanwhile, Illinois will only be down leading receiver Pat Bryant with Bielema saying that he expects no other players to opt out. That means the Illini will have Zakhari Franklin, Aidan Laughery, Josh McCray, Matthew Bailey, Gabe Jacas, and Xavier Scott, along with QB Luke Altmyer.
While Bryant is a big loss, the Illini still have many of the players that have this offense ranked 24th in EPA per rush. The defense should be pretty much fully intact, and it’s a unit that’s 34th in SP+ and taking on a South Carolina offense that lacks playmakers with Sanders out.
A win is a tough ask against a well-coached South Carolina squad, but losing by fewer than 10 with the Gamecocks down their two top players seems likely. I have South Carolina taking it 27-23.
South Carolina vs Illinois same-game parlay (SGP)
Illinois +9.5
Zakhari Franklin Over 44.5 receiving yards
LaNorris Sellers Over 34.5 rushing yards
Without Bryant, Franklin is poised to see a big workload. He’s second on the team in receiving yards (613) and has topped 44.5 receiving yards in seven of 12 games this season.
His 1.99 yards per route run is second on the team behind and he’s tied with him in contested catches (8). Similar to Franklin stepping up without Bryant, Sellers will need to do without Sanders.
The redshirt freshman took his game up a notch down the stretch and crossed 34.5 rushing yards in each of his final five games. He’s capable of creating plenty of splashes, too, with his 559 rushing yards after contact being the eighth-most in the country among QBs.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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South Carolina vs Illinois odds
South Carolina vs Illinois live odds
South Carolina vs Illinois opening odds
- South Carolina vs. Illinois spread: Illinois +11.5
- South Carolina vs. Illinois moneyline: South Carolina -450, Illinois +325
- South Carolina vs. Illinois Over/Under: 47.5
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
South Carolina vs Illinois spread and Over/Under analysis
- South Carolina opened as an 11.5-point favorite, but most books are now offering the Gamecocks between -9.5 and -10 after Sanders and Kennard opted out.
- With a 9-3 record, South Carolina is among the best teams ATS this season, but Illinois isn’t far behind at 8-3-1.
- The Over/Under opened as low as 47.5 and has since jumped up to between 49 and 49.5 at most books.
- While the Gamecocks are 7-5 betting the Over this season, the Illini are just 5-7.
- Covers Consensus shows 55% of ATS picks siding with Illinois, and 62% taking the Over.
South Carolina vs Illinois betting trend to know
Illinois has covered the spread in eight of its last 12 games (+4.75 Units / 36% ROI). Find more college football betting trends for South Carolina vs Illinois.
How to watch South Carolina vs Illinois game info
| Location: | Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL |
| Date: | Tuesday, 12-31-2024 |
| Kickoff: | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ABC |
South Carolina vs Illinois latest injuries
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South Carolina vs Illinois weather
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