No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday, 9/10/11, 4:30 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: South Carolina -2.5
Current Betting Line: South Carolina -3
Opening Total: 50.5
Current Total: 51.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
South Carolina survived a momentary scare in a 56-37 come-from-behind win over East Carolina last week as a neutral field 21-point favorite. The Gamecocks will now open up their 20th season of SEC play, looking to improve upon their 8-11 record in openers. “We tell them the importance of the game,” said Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier about facing Georgia. “The division games are just a tad bit more important as far as accomplishing your goal of winning the division.” The program was picked by the media as favorites to repeat as champions of the SEC Eastern Division and will be looking to start a season 2-0 for the third time in seven years. South Carolina is 7-2 ATS as road favorites of three or less points.
The Gamecocks were led by the running of sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore in last year’s 17-6 win in Columbia as three-point home favorites, as he gained 182 yards on 37 carries. “The whole week we prepared to run the ball and I knew coming into the game that we were going to run the ball a lot,” Lattimore commented about last year’s game plan. South Carolina is 15-46-2 all-time against Georgia, including a 8-19-2 disadvantage in Athens. Quarterback Stephen Garcia will be playing in the rivalry for the third time, completing 43-of-71 passes for 478 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in his two previous tries.
Georgia dropped a 35-21 contest against the Boise State Broncos to open the 2011 season last week inside the Georgia Dome, but the team was only out-gained by 17 yards. Head coach Mark Richt has quickly needed to focus on getting his team’s attention leading into the conference opener. “I view it as a very important game,” Richt stated in a press conference this week. Media members are wondering if the team will stick to a running back rotation of Isaiah Crowell and Richard Samuel. Fans are clamoring to see more of the prized freshman, as Crowell gained 60 yards on 15 carries in his debut. Georgia is 2-8 ATS as an underdog.
The Bulldogs will likely lean heavily on sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray, as he’ll look to improve upon his 16-of-29 performance for 236 yards and two touchdowns last week. He’s a difference maker and has already experienced the rivalry first hand. As a true freshman, he completed 14-of-21 passes for 192 yards in enemy territory in this rivalry game a year ago.
Bettors will likely back the Gamecocks due to their 3-0-1 ATS mark in the last four meetings, while the Bulldogs are 0-4 ATS in September.
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