The wait is almost over. At long last, rivalry weekend is upon us.

In what will be one of the biggest games of the weekend, No. 15 South Carolina will travel to the upstate to face No. 12 Clemson for the Palmetto Bowl. Kickoff is at noon on ESPN on Saturday.

The GamecockCentral and 107.5 The Game staffs shared their predictions for the game between the Gamecocks and Tigers as well as other Week 14 matchups from around the country. 

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George Bagwell: I think this is a bad matchup for Clemson. They’re not working with a great offensive line while they face an elite defensive front. They just gave up 288 rushing yards to The Citadel, the most against a Clemson defense since Georgia in 2014, and now they’re facing a highly efficient run-based offense in South Carolina. South Carolina 38, Clemson 20.

Peyton Butt: This could honestly go either way so making a prediction was a challenge. Clemson has struggled with some injuries thus far but the two are pretty evenly matched. I think the game being at Clemson will be a huge advantage and boost for the Tigers. Gamecock defense will have to put pressure on Cade Klubnik fast but I think Klubnik’s accuracy and consistency will be a problem for the Gamecocks. Clemson 45, South Carolina 28.

Elijah Campbell: It’s one of the most highly anticipated games in the history of this great rivalry and for the first time since I was in high school, I really feel like this Gamecocks team will go into Clemson and win. Shane Beamer said that forcing turnovers is a must and I agree. I also see the Kennard and Stewart edge rushing combo working perfectly to force one of the key turnovers as well as keeping Clemson’s rushing attack at bay. Give me the Gamecocks in a thriller! South Carolina 21, Clemson 17.

Chris Clark: I think this South Carolina team is battle-tested and will have an advantage at the line of scrimmage on defense. I expect a competitive game, but I’m taking the Gamecocks to get it done on the road. South Carolina 27, Clemson 20.

Terry Ford: USC wins a tight one on the road. The way the Gamecocks offense has come on to go along with one of the best defenses in America make Carolina tough to beat. Plus, USC has been real good on the road all year. Stat to file away…ESPN SP+ Special Teams Rankings Nationally: Gamecocks 42^nd…Tigers 109^th. South Carolina 23, Clemson 20.

Griffin Goodwyn: Recent history would say that the Gamecocks are expected to struggle when they head to Memorial Stadium on Saturday. South Carolina has lost three of its last four road matchups against Clemson, and those three defeats were by a combined 88 points. But the Gamecocks’ last trip to the Tigers’ home stadium was a different story, as they claimed a 31-30 victory facing long odds as an unranked team looking to take down a top-10 squad with College Football Playoff aspirations. The postseason stakes are higher for both teams in this year’s Palmetto Bowl, and so is the possibility of an upset. South Carolina is in the midst of a five-game win streak — and is in prime position for a sixth-straight victory. South Carolina 28, Clemson 27.

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Tyler Head: High stakes game. Gamecocks have to slow down the Tigers rushing attack. I think Sellers has another star making performance. South Carolina 34, Clemson 31.

Wes Mitchell: South Carolina’s defensive line has carried it all season long and I don’t think that will stop this week, especially against a Clemson offensive line that has been banged up. The key will be can the Gamecocks protect the football, not let the moment be too big, and just do what they do otherwise. South Carolina 31, Clemson 21.

Jay Philips: Here we are, a Carolina/Clemson game that really matters for both teams beyond the daily rivalry. The Gamecocks are playing some of the best football in the country and will feel no fear in traveling to Memorial Stadium this weekend. Based on their form I think Carolina is the slightly better team, and if they continue on their current path they should win this game. In a tense contest give me South Carolina 30, Clemson 23.

Kendall Smith: I could write a long paragraph about why I am going with this final score, but all I’m going to say is I think this game belongs to the Gamecocks if they play to their potential. South Carolina 27, Clemson 23.

Mike Uva: Two teams with strong defenses who have QBs who have improved throughout the year. This should be an instant classic, especially with the college football playoff hopes hovering both these teams. South Carolina 20, Clemson 17. 

Jack Veltri: I’ve said it since the summer that South Carolina would beat Clemson this year, and that was before any of us knew the Gamecocks would be where they are today. I still feel they’re going to get the job done. They’ve faced all kinds of adversity this season and handled it well. The key here will be to take care of the football on offense and the defense creates takeaways. South Carolina 34, Clemson 28.

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Chris Wellbaum: Which quarterback do you trust against which defense? Both teams will try to lean on their run game, and the defense that can force some turnovers will win the game. Clemson 31, South Carolina 16.

Kevin Miller: In one of the most anticipated matchups in recent rivalry history, South Carolina and Clemson are both ranked and holding on to slight hope for the College Football Playoff. The Gamecocks have played better than the Tigers in recent weeks, but the game is in the Upstate. In classic rivalry fashion, this game could come down to the football cliches: turnovers, 3rd-down conversions, and explosive plays. Give me the Gamecocks in a tight one: South Carolina 27, Clemson 24.

Rivalry week is upon us, and all eyes will be on College Station, Texas, as No. 3 Texas and No. 20 Texas A&M for the first time since 2011. This one is even bigger than expected as the winner will move on to play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. The Longhorns will likely stay in the College Football Playoff bracket if they lose, but the Aggies almost certainly are in a CFP do-or-die situation.

Kansas State and Iowa State will tee it up in Ames, and South Carolina will head upstate to take on Clemson in games that, very quietly, can still impact the CFP race.

Here are the picks from Outkick writers Trey Wallace and Barrett Sallee, who are tied in straight up and against the spread heading into the biggest weekend of the season. Keep in mind, winners against the spread in the wild card games are worth two points in our completely made-up game.

Trey: 38-14 straight up, 27-25 against the spread (29 points)

Barrett: 38-14 straight up, 27-25 against the spread (29 points)

Texas (-5.5) at Texas A&M

Wallace: Thank goodness this rivalry has returned after 13 years. I don’t know what type of wakeup call Texas A&M needed last week in Auburn, but they got it. Now, the Aggies still control their destiny, but so do the Longhorns, and I expect their offense to cause the opposing defense some problems. I think this one comes down to the fourth quarter, and Texas A&M finds a way to win this game late, something they couldn’t do last week against the Tigers. 

Sallee: Give me the Longhorns to win – and do it by double digits. I don’t care that their quarterback situation is in flux because both Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning are capable of getting the job done against an Aggies bunch that has to be down in the dumps after last week’s quadruple overtime loss at Auburn. Expect Texas’ defense to have its best performance of the season.

Kansas State at Iowa State (-2.5)

Wallace: Another wild game in the Big 12 awaits, as both teams still fight for a spot in the championship game, thanks to some wild tiebreaker rules. While this feels like a game for Avery Johnson to flourish at quarterback for Kansas State, I think Iowa State’s Rocco Becht could be the one that comes out on top. Even though the Wildcats have only given up more than 20 points just once in the last 5 games, this is the Cyclones day. 

Iowa State wins, and covers. 

MANHATTAN, KS – NOVEMBER 23:  Quarterback Avery Johnson #2 of the Kansas State Wildcats runs to the outside against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Sallee: I’m a big Avery Johnson fan, and he will show you why in what will be a win for the Wildcats en route to the Big 12 Championship Game. He’s healthy again, which means that they will unleash a punishing rushing attack against a Cyclones defense that hasn’t fared well stopping the run.

South Carolina at Clemson (-3)

Wallace: This one should be a lot of fun. Both offenses have been playing well, but its the Gamecocks defense that continues to amaze me at times. I would argue that South Carolina is playing some of the best football in the SEC right now/ For Clemson, they are fighting for a spot in the college football playoff as well, which adds so much more fuel to this game. This one comes down to Tocket Sanders running the ball for the Gamecocks, and Clemson QB Cade Klubnik tossing a few interceptions. 

I’m going with the Gamecocks to win the game. 

Can Dabo Swinney lead the Clemson Tigers to the College Football Playoffs? . (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Sallee: The Gamecocks are one of the hottest teams in the country, and still have an outside chance at making the CFP. However, it needs to win and have several dominoes fall around the country. Expect coach Shane Beamer to unleash a monster rushing attack with quarterback LaNorris Sellars and running back Rocket Sanders, and the defensive front to rattle Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik.

Wild Card Games

Notre Dame (-7.5) at USC

Honestly, I have no idea why this is a single-digit spread. I call Notre Dame the “best, most boring team in the country” because the Fighting Irish casually go about their business bludgeoning their opponents until they say “mercy.” That will happen on Saturday against a broken Trojans team that has been a massive disappointment.

Can Alabama QB Jalen Milroe have a bounceback game against Auburn in the Iron Bowl (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

Auburn @ Alabama (-11.5)

The Tigers have the momentum entering this game, but Alabama is still playing for a potential spot in the college football playoff. So, what gives on Saturday afternoon? If Auburn can follow the same defensive plan as Oklahoma, who upset Alabama last week, then maybe they can cause Jalen Milroe to give up the ball a few times. If not, and they let Jalen make plays outside the pocket, it could be a long day for Auburn. 

I don’t know if I trust Payton Thorne to win this game for Auburn, but I do trust Jarquez Hunter to run the ball. I think Alabama wins, but the Tigers cover. 

Alright, that will do it for this week’s picks. Email your thoughts about the weekend to Trey.Wallace@OutKick.com

South Carolina had its run of 43 straight wins come to an end this past Sunday as Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks suffered a 77-62 loss at UCLA.

Staley said after the loss and ahead of the matchup with Iowa State on Thursday that she thought her team would respond the right way. Needless to say the Gamecocks did against Iowa State, pounding the Cyclones 76-36 on Thanksgiving Day.

“That’s what a team does. This is a resilient group,” Dawn Staley said. “This is a team that obviously hasn’t dealt with a whole lot of losing. It’ll shake you for a moment.

“We’ve got a 24-hour rule. Bask in the glory of a defeat and you handle a defeat. And you handle it with grace, but you handle it with learning lessons. Things were exposed and hopefully we can fill some of those holes and get back to happier times.”

It was certainly a happier time for South Carolina on Thursday. The Gamecocks led Iowa State 19-3 at the end of the first quarter and 35-9 at halftime.

South Carolina went on a 32-0 run at one point in the first half and easily handled an Iowa State team that was ranked No. 15 nationally.

Dawn Staley said ahead of the game that she wanted her team to play better offensively and it did. South Carolina shot 45.3 percent from the floor against Iowa State after connecting on only 36.4 percent of its attempts against UCLA.

“Our offense, just getting better looks and getting better ball movement,” Dawn Staley said of where South Carolina needed to improve. “The ball has been sticking too much to individual players and it’s stagnant.

“We need to get our bigs involved, so we’re going to look to get them involved in positions they can score, whether that’s two feet in the paint or hitting mid-range shots. If you’ve got 3-point range, you can take good, fluid, rhythm 3s.”

South Carolina relied on a balanced scoring attack against Iowa State as senior forward Sania Feagin and freshman forward Joyce Edwards led the way with 13 points each.

The Gamecocks will be back in action on Saturday when they face Purdue in Fort Meyers, Florida. Tip off is set for 11 a.m.