South-Carolina

Jackson State vs. South Carolina State: Predictions, odds for Celebration Bowl

Published

12 months ago

December 14, 2024

Jackson State vs. South Carolina State: Predictions, odds for Celebration Bowl

The college football bowl season kicks off with a bang as the Cricket Celebration Bowl features the Jackson State Tigers facing off against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at noon on Saturday.

The Tigers are riding a wave of momentum into the bowl game, having clinched their third SWAC conference championship with a resounding 41-13 victory over the Southern Jaguars. This triumph, despite an early setback with quarterback Jacobian Morgan’s injury, was a testament to the team’s resilience and depth, with backup Zy McDonald stepping up to lead the offense effectively. McDonald’s 54.5% completion rate, one touchdown, one interception, and a rushing touchdown for 95 yards further underscore the Tigers’ readiness for the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

The Bulldogs are entering bowl season with a 9-2 record, having secured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. The offense is spearheaded by Eric Phoenix, a transfer from Murray State. In his first season with the Bulldogs, Phoenix delivered an impressive performance, achieving a 65.3% completion rate with 2,469 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Here is everything to know ahead of the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Cricket Celebration Bowl predictions: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State

Clarion Ledger: South Carolina State 27, Jackson State 23

Sam Sklar writes: “It’s difficult to pick weaknesses from each team. Jackson State has already won games this season despite quarterback attrition. But with Morgan’s status unknown, the Tigers’ offense has a slow start that it can’t overcome.”

College Football News: Jackson State 27, South Carolina State 24

Fiu Bluesky writes: “This game never seems to disappoint – it was 7 in our How Good Was Your Bowl? rankings last year – and this time is should be just as strong. Jackson State isn’t as good as it was in the Coach Prime era, but those 2021 and 2022 teams both lost. Both teams are explosive, both have a terrific defense, but Jackson State has a bit more power to go with the flash.”

Picks and Parlays: South Carolina State Bulldogs win 27-17

Eddie Kline writes: “South Carolina State has won seven straight games and has scored 107 points total in their last two contests. Jackson State has one three of the previous four SWAC Conference Championships and has been on this stage. Look for the Bulldogs to pull off the upset and give the MEAC its seventh win in the last nine games in this bowl. Final Score Prediction, South Carolina State Bulldogs win 27-17.”

Cricket Celebration Bowl odds, lines: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State

The Jacksonville State Tigers are favorites to defeat the South Carolina State Bulldogs, according to the BetMGM college football odds.

Odds as of afternoon of Friday, Dec. 13.

Spread: South Carolina State (-2.5)
Moneylines: South Carolina State (-130); Jackson State (-120); South Carolina State (+110)
Over/under: 53.5

How to watch Jackson State vs. South Carolina State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl

Date: Saturday, Dec. 14
Time: 12 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Stream: Fubo
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)

Tickets to the Cricket Celebration Bowl with StubHub

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South-Carolina

Dabo Swinney Had Classy Words for Shane Beamer After Clemson Beat South Carolina

Published

10 hours ago

November 30, 2025

Press Room

Dabo Swinney Had Classy Words for Shane Beamer After Clemson Beat South Carolina

Dabo Swinney extended some empathy for rival coach Shane Beamer after Clemson took down South Carolina 28–14 on Saturday. The game marked the disappointing resolution of the Gamecocks’ season, which saw them finish 4–8.

South Carolina went into the 2025 season ranked No. 13 and coming off a promising 9–4 campaign a year ago. They proved unable to build off those efforts, instead doubling their loss total from 2024 and failing to qualify for a bowl game. Their season culminated with a loss to their in-state rivals, only adding to the sour taste this year has produced.

After the game, Swinney was seen extending support to Beamer’s family, sharing a hug with his wife and son.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Shane and what he’s done here,” Swinney said after the game. “My heart hurts for him and Emily because I’ve been on the other side of it. But I’m proud of our guys.”

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Swinney also stuck up for Beamer by recalling some of the ups and downs his own Clemson teams have undergone during his tenure. “All I can tell you, Shane’s good football coach, better person, and he cares,” Swinney said. “I think these are reactionary games where you can really overreact. I lost five in a row, and we were really good teams. And again, we had 15 turnovers to their three. And that was a bad run. But we were a good team, and they were a good team, but you hang in. I’m glad that Clemson people didn’t give up on me.”

Dabo Swinney was asked about what his message would be to South Carolina fans frustrated with Shane Beamer’s first five seasons in Columbia: “I’m glad Clemson people didn’t give up on me.” pic.twitter.com/louYaKVz4Y
— Clemson Sports (@ClemsonSports) November 29, 2025

Beamer addressed his team’s shortcomings as well on Saturday following their loss. He said earlier this month that next year South Carolina will be tuning in to the College Football Playoff rankings show to see where they land, and has doubled down that next year will prove much more successful.

“I hate that we’ve gone through this,” Beamer said. “I hate it for the seniors that don’t come back. But I can one billion percent promise you this. When we have a hell of a season in 2026 and when I’m doing this press conference after the Clemson game next year and we finished a regular season because of the success that we’re going to have next season, I know we will. We’re going to look back at this season and say, ‘It sucked going through it, but because of what we went through in ’25, it led us to what we just did in ’26.’”

More College Football on Sports Illustrated

Listen to SI’s new college sports podcast, Others Receiving Votes, below or on Apple and Spotify. Watch the show on SI’s YouTube channel.

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Live Blog: Clemson Faces Rival’s South Carolina on the Road

Published

1 day ago

November 29, 2025

Press Room

Live Blog: Clemson Faces Rival’s South Carolina on the Road

The Palmetto Bowl has arrived once again, and Clemson and South Carolina are set to close out the 2025 regular season in a rivalry that rarely disappoints. The Tigers enter the matchup at 6–5 after securing their 21st straight bowl appearance with a convincing win over Furman, a game where Cade Klubnik threw two touchdowns to Antonio Williams and the offense piled up more than 450 total yards. South Carolina, sitting at 4–7, is coming off its strongest performance of the year after a 51–7 rout of Coastal Carolina behind LaNorris Sellers’ four-touchdown effort.

Today marks the 122nd meeting between the two programs, with Clemson holding the overall edge but the Gamecocks winning two of the last three. The Tigers, however, have dominated recent trips to Williams-Brice Stadium, taking five straight in Columbia, including a 16–7 victory back in 2023.

With both teams looking to close a turbulent season on a high note, all eyes turn to Columbia for one final regular-season stage. We’ll have updates, big plays, momentum shifts, and everything you need as the action unfolds live from Williams-Brice Stadium.

Clemson as the underdog

The Tigers are underdogs today. Something we’re not very used to in this rivalry of late.

Going out in a high note

To be honest, this might be more important than winning a final bowl game for these seniors. It definitely is. They need to show up today.

How to Watch

Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of ClemsonTigers news and notes, plus opinions

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ESPN has odd score prediction for Clemson football vs South Carolina

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

ESPN has odd score prediction for Clemson football vs South Carolina

The Clemson Tigers close out the 2025 college football regular season with their annual matchup against the in-state rival South Carolina Gamecocks from the SEC.

Clemson (6-5) clinched bowl eligibility with a 45-10 win over Furman from the Football Championship Subdivision last week at Memorial Stadium. Cade Klubnik threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns before receiving one last ovation from the Clemson faithful after being taken out of the game midway through the second quarter.

Antonio Williams caught both touchdown passes from Klubnik and finished the day with 57 yards, and the Tigers ran for 219 yards, with freshman quarterback Chris Denson turning in a stellar performance in his first meaningful action.

The freshman from Plant City, Florida completed all four passes for 22 yards and a touchdown while running for 106 yards and a touchdown on six carries. Denson suffered an injury in practice this week, coach Dabo Swinney announced Tuesday.

South Carolina (4-7) cruised past Coastal Carolina, 51-7, last week. LaNorris Sellers threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two others. Sellers accounted for 356 all-purpose yards (274 passing, 82 rushing). The Gamecocks had lost seven of their last eight games after starting the season 2-0.

Clemson has won eight of the last 10 meetings in the series vs. South Carolina dating back to 2014, including five straight at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Tigers defeated the Gamecocks, 16-7, in the last meeting in Columbia in 2023. South Carolina has won two of the past three head-to-head matchups, both at Clemson.

Will Clemson football beat South Carolina in Columbia again? ESPN makes ‘prediction’

Ahead of Clemson-South Carolina, ESPN’s Bill Connelly tried to predict who will win using his popular SP+ metrics. But even Connelly isn’t sure, it seems.

His score “prediction”: Clemson 24, South Carolina 24.

Clemson and South Carolina have never played in overtime since ties in college football were abandoned in 1995. Nevertheless, Connelly gives the Tigers a win probability of 51%.

What are ESPN SP+ rankings?

According to Connelly, SP+ is “simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you’re lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you’re strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise.”

“SP+ is not a résumé ranking, so it does not automatically give credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling — no good predictive system does,” he adds.

Clemson vs South Carolina football start time, channel

Clemson-South Carolina is scheduled for a noon ET kickoff Saturday from Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The game will be televised on SEC Network. Taylor Zarzour and Matt Stinchcomb will have the TV call of the game. Alyssa Lang will report from the sidelines.

The radio broadcast of Saturday’s game can be heard on the Clemson Tigers app via the Clemson Athletic Network. Don Munson, Tim Bourret and Reggie Merriweather will have the call of the game on the radio. Additionally, the Tigers’ radio broadcast can be heard on SiriusXM channel 193.