South Carolina holds the upper hand in the recent border-battle rivalry with Georgia, winning four of the last five meetings outright and going 6-1-1 against the spread over the last eight. The Bulldogs will try to turn those trends around when the teams meet Saturday evening between the hedges in Athens.
Point spread: The Bulldogs opened as 15.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).
College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 38.2-19.9 Bulldogs
Why the South Carolina Gamecocks can cover the spread
South Carolina is coming off a tough 26-22 loss at home to an improving Kentucky team. The Gamecocks fell down 24-7, rallied to within 24-22 but then coughed up a chance at tying the game when a two-point conversion fumble went the other way for two Wildcats points. South Carolina was also forced to settle for three short field goals. On the day, the Gamecocks outgained Kentucky, and when starting quarterback Connor Mitch got knocked out with a shoulder injury, backup Perry Orth came in and helped spark the comeback by throwing for 179 yards and a score.
Two weeks ago, South Carolina opened this season with a 17-13 victory over North Carolina, covering as a one-point home favorite.
The Gamecocks returned only four starters on offense this season, but three of them came along the offensive line, and eight starters returned on defense. Finally, South Carolina has been a good bet in spots like this under head coach Steve Spurrier, going 17-11 ATS as a dog on the road under Spurrier and 3-0 ATS its last three times out as a dog of a touchdown or more.
Why the Georgia Bulldogs can cover the spread
Georgia is off to a 2-0 start this season, including a 31-14 victory at Vandy last Saturday. The Bulldogs outrushed the Commodores 282-105, as running back Nick Chubb went off for 189 yards and scored on both a punt return and an interception return. But they came up just short of covering as 18-point favorites.
Georgia opened this season two weeks ago with a 51-14 romp over Louisiana-Monroe, covering at minus-35.
The Bulldogs returned 13 starters this season, including breakout performer Chubb, four along the offensive line and six on defense. If they can get some decent play from the quarterback position, where it looks like Virginia transfer Greyson Lambert has taken over, the Bulldogs will contend in the SEC East this season.
Smart pick
Georgia might win this game outright, but playing at home means the spread is probably inflated by at least a field goal, maybe more. Spurrier and the Gamecocks defense should keep this one within the number.
Betting trends
- The total has gone under in South Carolina's last six games.
- Georgia is 6-1 SU in its last seven games.
- Georgia is 24-2 SU in its last 26 games at home.
All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2567006-south-carolina-gamecocks-vs-georgia-bulldogs-betting-odds-football-pick
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