There's nothing quite like sniffing out a college football betting line that seems ripe for the picking. NCAA football fans may be getting such a matchup this weekend as the South Carolina Gamecocks head to Death Valley (don't @ me, Clemson fans) to take on the defending national champion LSU Tigers in SEC action.
LSU is installed as a 7-point favorite against South Carolina, who is fresh off a 30-22 upset win over Auburn.
We break down the college football odds with our free South Carolina vs LSU picks and predictions for Saturday, October 24, with kickoff at 7 p.m. ET
South Carolina Gamecocks vs LSU Tigers betting preview
Weather
It's expected to be a warm and humid evening at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, with temperatures between 69 and 81 degrees and humidity at 85 percent. There will be a mild breeze of 5.5 miles per hour. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key Injuries
South Carolina: Aaron Sterling DL (Probable), Israel Mukuamu CB (Questionable), Marshawn Lloyd RB (Out), Jordan Rhodes OL (Out), Ortre Smith WR (Out)
LSU: Arik Gilbert TE (Probable), Terrace Marshall Jr WR (Probable), Myles Brennan QB (Doubtful), Micah Baskerville LB (Questionable), Derek Stingley Jr. CB (Questionable), Ed Ingram G (Questionable), Tyler Shelvin DL (Out), Ja-Marr Chase WR (Out)
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
South Carolina is 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games as a road underdog. Find more NCAA football betting trends for South Carolina vs. LSU.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
LSU won the National Championship last season but knew it would be a rebuilding year in 2020 after losing a whopping 14 players to the NFL Draft, led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. The road back to the CFP was made even tougher when projected first-round WR Ja'Marr Chase and run-stuffing nose tackle Tyler Shelvin opted out of the season due to COVID.
Now things get even more difficult with an injury to quarterback Myles Brennan, who has been one of the few bright spots in a 1-2 start to the year. Brennan is doubtful for Saturday and will be replaced with a pair of true freshmen in TJ Finley or Max Johnson.
The Tigers defense has already looked awful this year, surrendering 45 points to Missouri in their previous game and giving up 44 points at home in their season opener against Mississippi State. Without Brennan to help play catch up, LSU will have a tough time covering this spread against a South Carolina team coming off back-to-back wins.
PREDICTION: South Carolina +7 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The Tigers defense has been absolutely torn up through the air this year, surrendering 380.7 passing yards per game, but South Carolina doesn't have the vertical passing game to take advantage of that weakness.
While Gamecocks senior QB Collin Hill is efficient, he throws for a modest 210.5 yards per contest. The Gamecocks lean on their solid running game, led by Kevin Harris (409 rushing yards and 5 yards per carry), but will be taking on a sturdy LSU run defense that holds opponents to 114 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry on the ground.
As for South Carolina's stop-unit, they've looked good so far this year with the exception of one half against Kyle Trask and Florida. The Gamecocks are solid up front, at linebacker, and in their secondary, and have held foes to 24.5 points per game, third-best in the conference. Expect them to contain LSU's freshmen QBs and take the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 55 (-110)
Team Prop
As good as LSU's attack was last season, they have just two returning starters in 2020 and it's almost a miracle that Brennan was playing so well with such an inexperienced group around him. But the loss of Brennan is huge and now the Tigers will be playing a true freshman without a single college snap at football's most important position.
South Carolina is coming off a game where they held Auburn to 22 points and picked off second-year starter Bo Nix three times while holding him to a completion percentage of 51 percent. Take the Under on LSU's team total.
PREDICTION: LSU Team total Under 30.5 (-118)
South Carolina vs LSU betting card
- South Carolina +7 (-110)
- Under 55 (-110)
- LSU Team total Under 30.5 (-118)
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Where can I bet on college football?
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