South Carolina lost its coach midseason, have won just three games all year and have no real stand out aspect to their overall game.
That is a lot of things stacked against the Gamecocks, but none is bigger than facing the nation’s top ranked team, the Clemson Tigers.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
South Carolina Gamecocks +17.5
Clemson Tigers -17.5
Over/Under 55.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
Both the spread and the total have dropped half a point since the odds were released by BookMaker and the spread now sits at 17 with the total at 55.
Against the spread, both teams are 5-6 this year and each have dropped two straight though the No. 1 ranked team in the nation has dropped three in a row ATS despite holding on to an undefeated 11-0 SU record.
They’ve also only outscored the opposition by at least 17 points once in their last four games.
KEY MISMATCH
It’s hard to find an aspect of this matchup that’s not a mismatch with the Tigers ranking No. 5 defensively in yards allowed per game at just 278.7 and the Gamecock’s offense struggling all season.
Clemson ranks No. 17 in the nation scoring 38 PPG and balances a very good rushing attack with a top end passing game. Both should easily find success against South Carolina. The Gamecocks are allowing 26.6 PPG, but they particularly struggle to defend the run evidenced by the 215.7 rushing yards allowed per game.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is a dual threat and is averaging 5.4 rushing yards per carry with 642 total rushing yards and six touchdowns. He’s one of four players with multiple rushing touchdowns.
Of course, Wayne Gallman is the team’s leading rusher with 1,030 yards and nine scores.
KEY STAT
.225 – This is the nation’s lowest percentage of third downs allowed on defense. Clemson is the owner of this mark, forcing the opposition into third down situations 160 times this season and allowing just 36 first downs. On offense, the Gamecocks are converting 34.9 percent of their opportunities, one of the worst percentages in the league.
South Carolina is also pretty bad on third downs defensively, ranking No. 107 and allowing the opposition to convert 45.1 percent of the time, right in line with Clemson’s 45.8 percent rate on offense.
BETTING ANGLE
These two teams have one of the more storied rivalries in the sport dating back over a century with 112 total meetings and Clemson holding the 66-42-4 edge.
While over the long term the Tigers have been the better team, the last few years belonged to the Gamecocks until Clemson grabbed the win in 2014 to snap a five year SU and ATS winning streak for South Carolina.
Over the last decade, neither team has been favored by more than a touchdown, but that changes this year with a 17-point spread.
Rivalry games often produce quirky outcomes with vast underdogs playing the best game of their season and superior teams inexplicably struggling.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
While this is a rivalry game and the Gamecocks have plenty to play for in terms of pride and ending on a good note, 17-points is more than a fair spread given each team’s track record this year.
Look for Watson and Gallman to have big games on the ground against the shaky South Carolina rush defense. The Clemson defense should outclass the Gamecocks’ offense and keep them off the board.
South Carolina’s offense has only scored more than 24-points in a game twice this year while Clemson has shutdown better offenses than the Gamecock’s. Look for them to close the regular season out with a win and cover against their most hated rival.
Clemson 35, South Carolina 16
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Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The Clemson Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks square off on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at 12 p.m. ET at William-Brice Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
