South Carolina vs. Tennessee Odds, Picks | NCAAF Betting Preview (Saturday, Sept. 30)

South Carolina vs. Tennessee Odds

The SEC’s depth is on full display this weekend, and this matchup is a prime example.

The South Carolina Gamecocks head to Knoxville to take on the No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers.

South Carolina is 2-2, but it’s played some stiff competition, as losses to North Carolina and No. 1-ranked Georgia aren’t the worst knocks on a resume.

Meanwhile, the Gamecocks also picked up a quality win last week against Mississippi State.

The Gamecocks will need all the momentum they can get as they take on a Tennessee team that has yet to pass a test this season.

The Volunteers’ schedule has been relatively soft, and their lone loss was to Florida, a team it was favored over.

Can Tennessee cover the spread in its second SEC matchup? Let’s dig in and find out.

Sometimes, a change of scenery can do wonders for a player.

That’s certainly been the case for South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, who was once a Heisman hopeful at Oklahoma.

However, after some disappointing performances, he’s revived his career at South Carolina.

In his second season since transferring, the offense is built around him, as the Gamecocks throw the ball at the 29th-highest rate in the country.

Rattler will have the opportunity to have success if his offensive line can give him some time to throw. The Volunteers are 110th in opponent completion percentage allowed, but South Carolina is 129th in sack rate allowed.

This matchup will hinge on South Carolina’s offensive line, and with the spread sitting between two touchdowns, the backdoor could be open if Rattler can put together a late drive.

There was a fair amount of hype surrounding Joe Milton III and the Volunteers’ offense entering the season, as Milton has a cannon for an arm and is very mobile.

However, while his passing stats look solid on paper, Milton is ranked as the 106th-best quarterback in the nation by PFF. Milton hasn’t been able to push the ball down the field with accuracy, but may have a shot at making some big-time throws in this matchup.

The Gamecocks’ secondary has been torched thus far; it ranks 121st in opponent completion percentage and 112th in yards per pass allowed.

Additionally, Tennessee’s offensive line will have a significant edge here. The Volunteers outrank South Carolina 10 to 49 in Line Yards, and South Carolina hasn’t generated much pressure.

Expect the Volunteers to move the ball efficiently both on the ground and through the air.

Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how South Carolina and Tennessee match up statistically:

South Carolina Offense vs. Tennessee Defense

Rush Success	107	6
Line Yards	116	21
Pass Success	49	47
Havoc	116	25
Finishing Drives	80	35
Quality Drives	77	34

Tennessee Offense vs. South Carolina Defense

Rush Success	23	86
Line Yards	10	49
Pass Success	77	116
Havoc	15	104
Finishing Drives	51	37
Quality Drives	91	86

Pace of Play / Other

PFF Tackling	50	63
PFF Coverage	80	11
Special Teams SP+	81	56
Middle 8	45	29
Seconds per Play	25.1 (37)	20.0 (1)
Rush Rate	48.9% (114)	52.5% (62)

Both offenses have avenues to success in this matchup, but the one key element we haven’t gone over is the tempo.

Tennessee is the fastest team in the country in terms of seconds per play, and South Carolina isn’t far behind at 37th.

So, with both offenses playing fast and moving the ball, we have a recipe for plenty of points.

Take the over.

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