The University of South Carolina will welcome ESPN’s College GameDay when the Gamecocks (2-0) host the No. 16-ranked LSU Tigers (1-1) at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14 at noon ET.
South Carolina earned its first SEC victory of the campaign last weekend at Kentucky, as its defense limited the Wildcats to 183 total yards and contributed a fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown in a 31-6 win.
Meanwhile, LSU shrugged off the disappointment of its Week 1 loss to USC with a 44-21 triumph over Nicholls State University. Tigers QB Garrett Nussmeier tossed six touchdown passes on the day, matching Jayden Daniels for the second-most in school history behind Joe Burrow.
As we get set for this SEC showdown, let’s examine the latest betting odds and dig into my LSU vs South Carolina prediction and best bets.
LSU vs South Carolina Odds
College Football Odds are current as of Monday, Sept. 9, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: LSU (-265) vs South Carolina (+215)
- Spread: LSU -7 (-108) vs South Carolina +7 (-112)
- Over/Under: Over 50 (-112) / Under 50 (-108)
LSU vs South Carolina Prediction
LSU 28, South Carolina 24
It’s difficult to glean who these teams are through two games.
South Carolina started the season with an eyebrow-raising four-point home win over Old Dominion but flipped the switch as a near double-digit underdog at Kentucky last Saturday.
Is this Gamecocks defense as stout as that performance showed? Or were they just able to expose the Wildcats’ porous offensive line?
That could be consequential in this weekend’s matchup, as LSU has some questions to answer up front, especially in the run game. The Tigers ran the ball 21 times for just 64 yards against Nicholls, which isn’t exactly promising.
HC Brian Kelly tried to defuse any o-line concerns by saying the offense didn’t want to run against stacked boxes, but there could be a bigger issue there. And while Nussmeier has looked solid and Kyren Lacy appears to be the next surefire LSU WR to play on Sundays, this offense will be easier to stop if it can’t get the ground game going.
This game should be close, but the Tigers should have just enough to escape Columbia with a victory.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
LSU vs South Carolina Best Bets
South Carolina +7 (-112)
With the spread sitting on a touchdown, I’m taking the points with the Gamecocks at home as my best college football bet today.
South Carolina’s defense gives it the platform to stay in the game and dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers gives the offense the potential to create explosive plays.
Arkansas transfer RB Raheim Sanders should also be able to exploit a restructured LSU defensive front that lost senior DT Jacobian Guillory (Achilles) for the season last week.
The Tigers’ defense hasn’t been dominant so far this season, allowing 27 points to USC and 21 to Nicholls, so the Gamecocks should be able to hold their own on Saturday.
Over 50 Points (-110)
Both offenses should have some success in this matchup.
South Carolina’s defense has been great, but this LSU passing attack poses the biggest threat it has seen this season. It also represents a step up in class from ODU and Kentucky.
On the other side, the Gamecocks should be able to hit some explosive plays to get us Over this relatively low total.
