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Arkansas Razorbacks at South Carolina Gamecocks 12:30 PM ET
South Carolina Gamecocks -3.5 -105 (2 Units)
Although South Carolina is not declaring this game a must win, in reality, it is. This is their final home game of the season and with games at Florida and at Clemson remaining, this is their best chance to become bowl eligible. The Gamecocks lost a tough one to Tennessee last week as they dominated the stats but lost the game. They outgained the Volunteers 567-412 in total yardage, had twice as many first downs (30 to 14) and held a 15-minute edge in time of possession. Arkansas was off last week and are on a current three game losing streak. The bye week helped heal some injuries but they are still banged up. The Arkansas defense is suspect, ranking last in the SEC in total defense and pass defense. South Carolina has totaled 1,919 yards in their last 4 home games (479.8 ypg). The favorite is 9-1 ATS the last 10 in this series.
South Carolina is getting their yards but they have not been able to convert that into points. The defenses they are facing is part of the problem but they are also shooting themselves in the foot as well. The Gamecocks are going to look back on the loss to Tennessee and wonder how it gained 567 yards and lost. The red zone has been a dead zone for South Carolina, which is ranked last in the SEC in that category through eight games. The Gamecocks have converted 63.9 percent (23 of 36) of their red-zone chances with a field goal or touchdown. The red-zone woes can be traced to two areas — turnovers and lost-yardage plays. Of South Carolina’s 13 missed scoring opportunities, six were the result of turnovers, more than any other SEC team. The giveaways consist of five fumbles and an interception. They have turned the ball over 219 times this season but Arkansas has only 13 takeaways to their credit. The Arkansas defense is ranked 86th in the country, allowing 403.4 ypg. In their last 3 games, they have given up 1,475 total yards (491.7 ypg). Their pass defense is allowing 238.9 ypg, ranking them 92nd in the country and their pass efficiency defense is even worse, ranked 108th and allowing a rating of 151.21. Last Saturday, South Carolina quarterback Dondrell Pinkins set career highs in completions (30), attempts (42) and passing yards (306). Most of those numbers came against a soft Tennessee defense trying to hold a lead but a soft Vols defense is about the same as a regular Arkansas unit. The Gamecocks have done it in the past as well as three of the top eight passing performances in the SEC this season have been by South Carolina quarterbacks. Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones, who has been bothered by a groin injury, will play but he will not be 100% again. The Gamecocks have a defense to match what Arkansas has seen from everybody. They are 19th in the country in total defense, allowing 294.8 ypg and are equally good at stopping both the run and the pass. Their pass efficiency defense is 5th in the country. Despite being in the top 30 in both passing and rushing offense, the Razorbacks have slipped recently, averaging only 333.5 ypg in their last 4 games which is 82.4 ypg below their season average. For the third consecutive season the Gamecocks are sitting atop the bowl bubble, stuck on five wins and a victory short of bowl eligibility. They are a remarkable 0-10 their last 10 games with a bowl game on the line but this is their best opportunity in three years to get there. They have gone against Tennessee twice, Arkansas twice (when they were much better), Florida twice, Clemson twice, LSU and Mississippi. Those teams combined for a 58-28 record prior to their meeting with the Gamecocks and none of them possessed a losing record at the time.
South Carolina Gamecocks -3.5 -105 (2 Units)
Although South Carolina is not declaring this game a must win, in reality, it is. This is their final home game of the season and with games at Florida and at Clemson remaining, this is their best chance to become bowl eligible. The Gamecocks lost a tough one to Tennessee last week as they dominated the stats but lost the game. They outgained the Volunteers 567-412 in total yardage, had twice as many first downs (30 to 14) and held a 15-minute edge in time of possession. Arkansas was off last week and are on a current three game losing streak. The bye week helped heal some injuries but they are still banged up. The Arkansas defense is suspect, ranking last in the SEC in total defense and pass defense. South Carolina has totaled 1,919 yards in their last 4 home games (479.8 ypg). The favorite is 9-1 ATS the last 10 in this series.
South Carolina is getting their yards but they have not been able to convert that into points. The defenses they are facing is part of the problem but they are also shooting themselves in the foot as well. The Gamecocks are going to look back on the loss to Tennessee and wonder how it gained 567 yards and lost. The red zone has been a dead zone for South Carolina, which is ranked last in the SEC in that category through eight games. The Gamecocks have converted 63.9 percent (23 of 36) of their red-zone chances with a field goal or touchdown. The red-zone woes can be traced to two areas — turnovers and lost-yardage plays. Of South Carolina’s 13 missed scoring opportunities, six were the result of turnovers, more than any other SEC team. The giveaways consist of five fumbles and an interception. They have turned the ball over 219 times this season but Arkansas has only 13 takeaways to their credit. The Arkansas defense is ranked 86th in the country, allowing 403.4 ypg. In their last 3 games, they have given up 1,475 total yards (491.7 ypg). Their pass defense is allowing 238.9 ypg, ranking them 92nd in the country and their pass efficiency defense is even worse, ranked 108th and allowing a rating of 151.21. Last Saturday, South Carolina quarterback Dondrell Pinkins set career highs in completions (30), attempts (42) and passing yards (306). Most of those numbers came against a soft Tennessee defense trying to hold a lead but a soft Vols defense is about the same as a regular Arkansas unit. The Gamecocks have done it in the past as well as three of the top eight passing performances in the SEC this season have been by South Carolina quarterbacks. Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones, who has been bothered by a groin injury, will play but he will not be 100% again. The Gamecocks have a defense to match what Arkansas has seen from everybody. They are 19th in the country in total defense, allowing 294.8 ypg and are equally good at stopping both the run and the pass. Their pass efficiency defense is 5th in the country. Despite being in the top 30 in both passing and rushing offense, the Razorbacks have slipped recently, averaging only 333.5 ypg in their last 4 games which is 82.4 ypg below their season average. For the third consecutive season the Gamecocks are sitting atop the bowl bubble, stuck on five wins and a victory short of bowl eligibility. They are a remarkable 0-10 their last 10 games with a bowl game on the line but this is their best opportunity in three years to get there. They have gone against Tennessee twice, Arkansas twice (when they were much better), Florida twice, Clemson twice, LSU and Mississippi. Those teams combined for a 58-28 record prior to their meeting with the Gamecocks and none of them possessed a losing record at the time.