In another one of those really big games down in the Southeastern Conference 6-0 Florida welcomes 6-1 South Carolina to the Swamp in Gainesville Saturday afternoon (3:30 pm ET, CBS).
The Gators, who are No. 2 in this week's BCS rankings, were early three-point favorites over the Gamecocks, who are coming off a tough loss at LSU.
But South Carolina has covered the spread in the past three meetings and five of the past seven. But they have lost 7 of 8 here in the Swamp ging back to the 1990s.
Of note, 6 of the past 7 games featuring the Gamecocks as an underdog went OVER the total. Florida has only lost once in a dozen games as favorite as well, so they are tough as chalk. [ Bet on SEC football action and pocket a huge bonus while you enjoy the best South Carolina underdog spread - visit Sportsbook ]
View South Carolina vs Florida Odds and Stats.
Betting Line: Bettors looking to back the visiting Gamecocks in this one found them as 3.5-point underdogs on the Sportsbook college football point spread at Sportsbook. The total was sitting at 41.5 at Sportsbook earlier in the week and may have moved since Thursday.
Power Rankings / Prediction: The game pits the Gators, currently No. 9 in our OddsShark NCAAF Power Rankings, against the Gamecocks, who rate No. 32 in the latest survey. Meanwhile, math and handicapping models run on this game predict a 44-37 victory for the Gamecocks.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Florida's No. 65-ranked offense (27.8 PPG) against a Gamecocks defense that ranks No. 5 at 12.3 PPG. The Gators passing attack has averaged 145 yards per game, less than the Gamecocks give up through the air (187.6 YPG on average).
Defensively, the Gamecocks feature the league's No. 46-rated road run defense, allowing 146.7 yards per game. Florida, meanwhile, ranks No. 42 in rushing offense at home.
Last time out for South Carolina, they were a 23-21 loser as they battled LSU on the road. South Carolina covered in the match as a 3-point underdog, while 44 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. The Gamecocks suffered a Week 7 loss against LSU in their last game, falling 23-21 at Tiger Stadium.
Florida was a 31-17 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against Vanderbilt. They covered the 9.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 48 sent OVER bettors to the payout window. Vanderbilt was unable to contain Jeff Driskel in its last action Saturday and the result was a 31-17 Week 7 loss against the Gators.
South Carolina Gamecocks Trends:
When playing in October are 7-3
When playing on grass are 9-1
After being outgained are 8-2
When playing within the conference are 8-2
Florida Gators Trends:
When playing in October are 3-7
When playing on grass are 8-2
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When playing within the conference are 6-4
A few Gamecocks at Gators trends to consider:
South Carolina is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
South Carolina is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of South Carolina's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of South Carolina's last 6 games when playing Florida
Florida is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Florida is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against South Carolina
Florida is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Florida is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing South Carolina
Next up:
South Carolina home to Tennessee, Saturday, October 27
Florida at Georgia, Saturday, October 27
