South-Carolina

Alabama vs. South Carolina prediction, odds and best bet for CFB Week 7: Can Tide bounce back?

Published

1 year ago

October 11, 2024

Alabama vs. South Carolina prediction, odds and best bet for CFB Week 7: Can Tide bounce back?

Has the shock worn off yet, Bama fans?

It hasn’t been an easy week for anyone associated with the Crimson Tide following last weekend’s first-of-its-kind loss to Vanderbilt. The Alabama defense did not show up in Nashville, and it needs to improve in a hurry if the team is going to qualify for the SEC championship game.

The Tide can turn the page on the Vandy game this weekend when they host South Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama is a big favorite on Saturday. Keep reading for the odds plus our Alabama vs. South Carolina prediction and best bet.

Alabama vs. South Carolina Prediction

As crushing as last week’s result was, there is too much pride within the Alabama locker room to let that feeling carry over to the next game. One loss does not mean the end of the season, especially now that the College Football Playoff has been extended to 12 teams.

Alabama (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) still has everything to play for, and it’s a safe bet that the players will give their best effort early on Saturday to set the tone against South Carolina (3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS). They want to prove to the home fans and themselves that they’re still an elite team with a chance to win conference and national championships.

All those factors make the Alabama first half -11.5 a strong wager.

Both teams have shown the ability to light up the scoreboard, and this should be a good setting for both teams to do that. Alabama is likely to improve, but is one week long enough for the Crimson Tide to make major improvements? Probably not.

South Carolina (2-3 to the Over) didn’t score a touchdown in last week’s loss to Ole Miss so the coaching staff will have the offensive players’ attention throughout this week in practice. Expect that to lead to an improved performance on that side of the ball against Alabama, which is 4-1 to the Over.

If you believe South Carolina will bounce back and Alabama’s defense isn’t going to be great one week after the Vanderbilt debacle, the third pick above is a must-bet for your portfolio this weekend.

Alabama has given up at least 20 points in nine consecutive SEC games. The streak includes the previous two weeks against Georgia and Vanderbilt in which the Tide gave up a combined 74 points.

CFB Week 7 Alabama vs. South Carolina odds

Point spreads available before last weekend’s games had Alabama favored by more than 21 points. Following Alabama’s loss to Vanderbilt, some online sportsbooks lowered the spread to under 21 points, but those numbers didn’t last long.

Now, Alabama is a 21- or 21.5-point favorite across the board. The over/under is listed anywhere from 50.5 to 51.5.

Alabama vs. South Carolina moneyline odds analysis for Week 7

Why Alabama could win as the favorite

Best odds: -1700 odds at Caesars Sportsbook

As much as it hurt Alabama to lose to Vanderbilt, at least the game wasn’t played in Tuscaloosa. Returning to the friendly atmosphere of Bryant-Denny Stadium will be a major advantage for Alabama against South Carolina.

The Tide led the SEC with a 65-3 record in home games over the last 10 seasons and are 3-0 this year. One of those wins was a thrilling victory over Georgia two weeks ago.

The Alabama football world is not ending under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide are going to be fine. They have a supremely talented roster with an elite QB in Jalen Milroe who can guide the offense to a level South Carolina cannot match even if the defense continues to struggle.

Why South Carolina could win as the underdog

Best odds: +1100 at FanDuel Sportsbook

Like Alabama, South Carolina is coming off a disappointing performance. The Gamecocks can expect

There is so much parity in the SEC, that few outcomes are a surprise.

For instance, South Carolina blew out Kentucky at Kentucky. Kentucky beat Ole Miss at Ole Miss, and then Ole Miss beat South Carolina at South Carolina. It’s almost like playing at home is a disadvantage.

Could that bode well for the Gamecocks in Tuscaloosa? Don’t count out any team in this unpredictable era of college football.

If Alabama’s defense doesn’t right the ship, South Carolina has a good enough offense to keep up on the scoreboard. The Gamecocks have scored at least 30 points in two SEC games.

Like Alabama, South Carolina is coming off a disappointing performance. The Gamecocks can expect to perform better than they did last week against Ole Miss.

If they make it a game in the fourth quarter against Alabama, will the Crimson Tide players tighten up thinking about the potential of another crushing loss?

Source link

Click to comment

South-Carolina

NFL Draft Injury Analysis: Jalon Kilgore, S – South Carolina

Published

8 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

NFL Draft Injury Analysis: Jalon Kilgore, S – South Carolina

The Lions may be looking for a safety within the first two rounds due to injuries to Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. That’s where Jalon Kilgore may come in. He has some minor injuries, but appears to be a relatively low-risk prospect for a team that needs to add health to that room.

Here is the excerpt of my medical report on Jalon Kilgore:

Jalon Kilgore, S (21) – South Carolina

Projected round 2-3.

Concern level 2/10

While his availability has been excellent, Kilgore has a history of hamstring strains in 2025 and 2023. If his 2024 injury is found to be also a hamstring, then happenstance becomes a disturbing trend.

With fast-twitch athletes, hamstrings are going to be very common, and generally don’t present any long-term issues. The difficult trick will be to determine if a certain player is more prone to hamstrings.

What helps Kilgore a lot is his young age.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD

Source link

South-Carolina

Motorcyclist critically injured in Longs area crash

Published

20 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Motorcyclist critically injured in Longs area crash

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — One person was critically injured in a motorcycle crash in the Longs area on Thursday afternoon, according to Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR).

Just before 2:00 p.m., crews responded to the area of Old Highway 31 near Hidden River Road.

MORE: 1 critically injured in vehicle rollover near International Dr.

One person was transported to the hospital as a result of the motorcycle crash, HCFR said.

Officials ask that drivers avoid the area as lanes of traffic are currently blocked.

The incident is under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol with assistance from the Horry County Police Department.

Source link

South-Carolina

South Carolina’s Raven Johnson carries her grandfather’s legacy into Sweet 16

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina’s Raven Johnson carries her grandfather’s legacy into Sweet 16

Alyssia Hamilton
| Special to USA TODAY

COLUMBIA, SC ― With the clock winding down and pressures of the Women’s NCAA Tournament rising, South Carolina senior guard Raven Johnson isn’t playing just to win. She plays in honor of a voice she can no longer hear – but that she still carries with her every time she steps onto the court.

That motivation was on full display Monday night, as the No. 1-seeded Gamecocks took down No. 9 USC to advance to the Sweet 16. Johnson earned her 1,000th career point ― what would prove to be her last point at Colonial Life Arena ― on a steal and fast-break layup that brought a roar from the crowd. The Gamecocks will face No. 4 Oklahoma Saturday in Sacramento, with another Elite Eight appearance on the line.

For Johnson, the moment symbolized something deeper – a career shaped by the memory of her late grandfather. Johnson’s family watched as she achieved the milestone, her mother, grandmother and twin brother. It was a full circle moment for a player whose journey took root in her grandparents’ home.

Her grandparents helped raise her and her twin brother, Richard Johnson. The family lived together and she often calls her grandmother “mother” and her grandfather “papa,” reflecting the impact they had on her upbringing.

“My grandparents did a really good job,” Johnson said. “We wouldn’t be playing sports if it wasn’t for them.”

The Boones introduced the twins to basketball through their church and spent countless hours training them, often pushing them past their limits. A sergeant first class in the Army Reserves, he supervised soldiers in his unit and brought that same discipline to his grandchildren on the court, being demanding, structured and determined.

“I remember being outside and he was training us and I thought it was so hard. I wanted to give up,” Johnson said. “I used to cry, and he would be like ‘You’re not going to cry in my face, and you’re not going to give up.’ It was little things like that that made me tough.”

The standard of grit, accountability and composure, is something Johnson carries today.

“She’s just a winner and she’s a great point guard,” said South Carolina senior guard Ta’Niya Latson, who also played with Johnson at Westlake High School in Atlanta. “When she’s confident, we’re confident. When she’s poised, we’re poised. It’s hard to have that type of personality and leadership on the court, but she carries it well.”

Rodrick Boone was diagnosed with stomach cancer in December 2012 and died in April 2013 while Johnson was at a tournament in New Orleans. She was 10 years old.

“I remember I shut down,” Johnson said. “My mind went blank. I was like ‘What?’ I thought he was untouchable.”

Months after her grandfather’s death, something shifted in her mindset.

“I think that’s my why,” Johnson said. “I keep going today because he is my why.”

As a child, Johnson didn’t even like basketball. She preferred T-ball and cheerleading and thought basketball wasn’t for girls, until she saw Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins and began to see herself differently.

“She was so pretty to me and I remember asking ‘Can I be girly and hoop?’” Johnson said.

She was the only girl on her recreational team, earning the nickname “Killer” for her defensive intensity alongside her brother, nicknamed “Thriller” for his offensive ability. The boys tested Johnson by playing physical and trying to push her out of the sport.

“I used to be cooking them out there a little bit, and I think they didn’t like that,” Johnson said.

She said the boys trying to make it hard on her actually made her tougher both physically and mentally.

Her grandmother, Connie Boone, said her grandfather would be proud of what Johnson has become.

“He might be crying but he would be happy about it,” her grandmother said. “You start them young, but you never know what the outcome is going to be.”

Johnson imagines the conversations she’d be having with her papa if he was still here.

“He would still be on my butt riding me, he’ll tell me maybe I need to fix something,” Johnson said. “He’ll be happy and I think he’ll be like ‘All right let’s get back to the drawing board. Let’s get ready for the next opponent.’”

She knows her papa is always watching, and she talks to him a lot at night.

“I just want to tell him that I’m going to keep pushing through even when it gets tough,” Johnson said. “He’s always telling me to push through because nobody cares. Nobody cares if you’re at your lowest, nobody cares.”

On Monday, fans chanted “Raven, Raven, Raven” as she walked off the court for the final time at Colonial Life Arena, Johnson’s moment was bigger than the scoreboard.

It was about diligence, progress and a promise kept.

With another game ahead and the possibility of a deeper tournament run, she isn’t finished. She continues to push and play for the voice that gave her a reason to begin.

Alyssia Hamilton is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

Source link