Georgia vs South Carolina Odds: Struggling Gamecocks Face Champs

Struggling South Carolina Could Have Hands full with Champion Georgia

Georgia vs South Carolina Odds: Having the defending national champion Georgia coming to town after South Carolina allowed 44 points and more than 450 yards of total offense might not be just what the doctor ordered.

The Gamecocks will need to play much better up front on both sides of the ball to hang with the Bulldogs which is something that hasn’t happened in the last two meetings. Let’s continue our Georgia vs South Carolina odds preview.

Only Missouri has allowed more points among SEC teams than the 58 given up by South Carolina so far. Georgia tops the nation in scoring defense as was the case for much of the 2021 season.

Georgia (+200) is second only to Alabama in the odds to win the national championship while South Carolina comes in at +20000.

The Bulldogs (+125) are also second only to Alabama in the odds to win the SEC title. The Gamecocks (+15000) are currently 12th in the odds to win the SEC.

Georgia vs South Carolina Game Information

• Game: Georgia Bulldogs 2-0 vs South Carolina Gamecocks 1-1
• Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
• Day/Time: Saturday, noon ET
• Television: ESPN

Georgia Bulldogs

It is too early to declare the Georgia defense on the same level as last year’s dominating unit. However, the Bulldogs have allowed just three points in the first two games of the season. It is no wonder that the Georgia vs South Carolina betting odds as favoring the visiting Bulldogs.

With two interceptions and just one sack, Georgia is not doing it without splash plays.

Freshman defensive back Malaki Starks leads the defense with eight tackles in the first two games. Six of the top 10 tacklers are either freshmen or sophomores as the Bulldogs replace the loss of the eight defensive players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett is off to an impressive start as he is completing 75% of his passes for 688 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the first two games. Kenny McIntosh leads the way with 198 yards on 14 catches while Kendall Milton is the top rusher with 135 yards and 7.5 yards per carrying in the first two contests.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Saying it has been a struggle for South Carolina to run the ball doesn’t quite seem to paint an accurate portrayal. The Gamecocks are averaging 1.95 yards per carrying through the first two games. Giving up 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks hasn’t helped. Those numbers are some of the reasons why the Georgia vs South Carolina betting odds have the Gamecocks listed as the underdogs at home.

Oklahoma transfer Spencer Rattler didn’t have the face the type of defensive pressure during his time with the Sooners that he has in the early stages of his time in South Carolina. He does have 603 passing yards in the first two games, but he also has three interceptions and only TD passes. Antwane Wells (15 catches, 244 yards) has quickly emerged into South Carolina’s go-to receiver.

Freshman Nick Emmanwori leads the defense with 10 solo stops in the first two games against Georgia State and Arkansas.

Georgia vs South Carolina Injury Update

When looking at the college football injuries, both Georgia and South Carolina are in better shape than many of the other teams from Power-5 conferences.

Georgia offensive lineman Earnest Green (leg) and receiver Adonai Mitchell (ankle) are questionable, offensive lineman Drew Bobo (shoulder), defensive back Nyland Green (hamstring), and receiver Arian Smith (ankle) is out indefinitely. Running back Andrew Paul (knee) is out for the season.

For South Carolina, Mohamed Kaba (knee), offensive lineman Jakai Moore, receiver Corey Rucker, and defensive backs R.J. Roderick and David Spaulding are questionable. Receiver Chad Terrell (knee) is out for the season.

Georgia vs South Carolina Head-to-Head

Georgia has won six of the last seven meetings with the average margin of victory in those contests being 23.3 points. The last time the teams met in Columbia, visiting Georgia cruised to the 45-16 win as a 22-point favorite.
South Carolina’s last win came in 2019 by a 20-17 score as a 21-point underdog. Let’s take a look at the current point spread on Georgia game.

The Bulldogs outscored South Carolina 26-0 in the second and third quarters en route to a 40-13 win in the most recent meeting.

The total has gone over in each of the last five games in the series when South Carolina is playing at home. The total has also got over in seven of the last nine games between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks

Georgia vs South Carolina Betting Preview

The point spreads currently show Georgia as a 24.5-point favorite. Georgia has won the last 12 games when favored by at least 20 points, however, the Bulldogs are just 5-7 against the spread in those games. South Carolina has won two of its last five games when listed as an underdog by at least 20 points and that includes the most recent victory for the Gamecocks against Georgia.

Concluding our Georgia vs South Carolina odds preview:

Georgia has allowed just two trips to the red zone by the opposing team in the first two games of the season so this will be no easy task for the South Carolina offense.

Georgia has won 19 of its last 20 games and 12 of the last 13 against SEC teams. Georgia is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games.

Georgia has covered against the spread in each of its last six road games while the total has gone under in five of the Bulldog’s last six games.