South Carolina vs. North Carolina NCAA Football Odds Rivalry Explained

Posted by Alex Murphy on Friday,June 19, 2015 1:41, EDT in

If you’re a College Football betting enthusiast that also likes delving into the historical aspect of collegiate gridiron action, then you’re in for a real treat as we look back – and ahead – at the longstanding interstate rivalry between South Carolina and North Carolina. With each school’s fan-base geography basically overlapping one another, both universities like to use the moniker, “The Real Carolina”. Now, let’s find out about this lengthy series and which football program could possibly lay claim to that title in 2015.

Explaining The South Carolina vs. North Carolina NCAA Football Odds Rivalry

The Beginning

The matchup between North Carolina and South Carolina was once an annual and nearly annual affair that has both, been played every year – and taken long break in between meetings. The interstate rivals first met way back in 1903 with North Carolina handing South Carolina a humbling 17-0 defeat before going on to win each of the next four meetings which all took place between 1904 and 1911. After the pair played to a 6-6 tie in 1912, North Carolina would go on to win the next three matchups and five of six overall.

The Gamecocks would not record their first win over the Tar Heels until 1924 when they took out North Carolina 10-7 in a close affair. Nevertheless, the Heels got back to their winning ways the following season and would go on to win four of the next six meetings up until 1936. Following another tie in 1937 and a South Carolina victory in 1941, North Carolina would go on to win six of the next seven meetings.

DYK Moment!

Did You Know that North Carolina Tar Heels and South Carolina Gamecocks played each other every year between 1920 and 1929 and again, between 1949 and 1964? Unfortunately, the teams have met just a dozen times since 1971, which is why a lot of college football fans and followers of both schools often don’t consider this a rivalry matchup in today’s times, even though the school’s are close geographical and historical rivals. These teams have played 56 games against one another with North Carolina currently holding a commanding 34-19-4 series lead.

Out of the last dozen meetings, five came in the decade after South Carolina moved from the ACC to the SEC. Five more games came in an eight-year period between 1983 and 1991. Just two games have taken place in the last 22 years. The last time these two football rivals met was in 2013 when the Gamecocks handed the Tar Heels a humbling 27-10 to cash in as an 11-point home favorite.

When Is the Next Battle of the Carolinas

South Carolina (7-6 SU, 7-6 ATS) will host North Carolina (6-7 SU, 5-8 ATS) in the regular season opener for both teams on Saturday, September 3, 2015. The Gamecocks will look to rebound from their first six-loss season since 2009 while North Carolina is also looking to get back to playing respectable football in 2015.

The Gamecocks return seven starters on offense and eight on defense. North Carolina returns a whopping 10 starters on offense, including athletically-gifted quarterback Marquise Williams, making this a must-see matchup for Week 1 of the 2015 regular season.