Georgia at South Carolina Lines & Expert Pick

Posted by Jordan Walters on Thursday,October 6, 2016 9:30, EDT in

It has been a rough start to the SEC season for Georgia and South Carolina as the Dawgs are just 1-2 in the conference and the Gamecocks 1-3. So neither is going to win the SEC East Division but a win Saturday would help for potential bowl slotting. As of this writing, the game is still scheduled to be played at South Carolina on Saturday but it could be moved to another location or to Sunday due to Hurricane Matthew. Be sure to check out for more college football betting picks by clicking here.

Let’s Take a Closer Look at the Georgia at South Carolina Lines & Expert Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia
TV: SEC Network
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Georgia / South Carolina
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Georgia -7 (40.5)

Why Bet on Georgia?

The Dawgs lost a heartbreaker last week 34-31 to Tennessee on a Hail Mary as time expired. Joshua Dobbs launched a 43-yard throw toward the end zone with Jauan Jennings hauling it in among five Georgia players for the game winner as time expired. In the previous drive, Georgia used its own come-from-behind touchdown with Jacob Eason hurling a 47-yarder toward Riley Ridley, giving the Bulldogs a 31-28 advantage with 10 seconds left in the contest.

The freshman Eason did a good job overcoming his own mistakes late against Tennessee. Consider that Eason’s go-ahead touchdown strike occurred after consecutive Eason turnovers. Two drives before, Eason carelessly pump-faked his way to a sack-fumble in the end zone to give Tennessee its first lead of the game. On his next drive, Eason threw an interception when he tried to hit a blanketed Terry Godwin down the left sideline on third-and- 15. A week after going 1-for- 9 passing against Ole Miss’ blitz, Eason was 4-of- 6 with four first downs against Tennessee’s blitz.

Eason completed 17-of- 28 passes for 211 yards, targeting Isaac Nauta with five of those throws for 83 yards. Sony Michel led the rushing corps with 91 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown while Brian Herrien followed with 15 carries for 74 yards. Junior Nick Chubb, who missed the second half of the Ole Miss game due to an ankle injury, saw action on only one play and had a 3-yard rush.

Georgia scored 10 points off three Tennessee turnovers while the Vols scored 7 points off two Bulldog miscues. Coming into the game, the Bulldogs had scored just 13 points off nine turnovers this season.

Why Bet on South Carolina?

The Gamecocks lost 24-13 to No. 9 Texas A&M last week. The Aggies posted a touchdown on their first drive of each half, with Trayveon Williams scoring on a 49-yard scamper to start the third quarter and hand Texas A&M a lead it would never relinquish. After the Gamecock defense forced a punt with 3:20 left, the Gamecocks muffed the punt reception, giving the Aggies back the ball that turned into the field goal that put the game out of reach. The Gamecock defense held Texas A&M to 422 yards and 24 points, both the Aggies’ lowest output of the season.

QB Perry Orth came off the bench and went 11-for- 18 in the fourth quarter, throwing for 138 yards. A.J. Turner went for 113 yards on 10 carries, his career-best day, including his longest run of 75 yards that gave the Gamecocks their only lead of the day. He also caught four passes for 22 yards.

It’s not clear who starts at QB in this game. Brandon McIlwain started last week’s loss to Texas A&M but was replaced by Orth in the fourth quarter. Orth, a senior who started eight games last year, started the first two games of this season. He has completed 58 percent of his passes for 373 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He has minus-9 rushing yards on eight attempts.

McIlwain, a freshman who enrolled early and participated in spring practice, has started the last three games. He has completed 53 percent of his passes for 567 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and has rushed 52 times for 98 yards. South Carolina is last in the SEC in yards (301.8 yards per game) and scoring (14 ppg) this year.

This week’s game marks the first time since South Carolina and Georgia became SEC rivals in 1992 that both teams are coming into the contest on a losing note. The Gamecocks have won four of the past six meetings with Georgia including three straight from 2010-12 (17-6, 45-42 and 35-7). The Bulldogs won last year’s meeting by a 52-20 count. The Gamecocks have won each of the last three times the two schools have met in Columbia.

My Free Pick

Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Under is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings in South Carolina.
Favorite is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Bulldogs are 2-6- 1 ATS in their last 9 meetings.
Bulldogs are 0-3- 1 ATS in their last 4 meetings in South Carolina.

Go Dawgs and under the total assuming this game is played somewhere.