South Carolina football: Gamecocks vs. Tar Heels injury report, spread, over/under, schedule, live Stream, TV channel
By Jacob Elsey
The South Carolina football team will travel just up the road to Charlotte on Friday to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The game will be played at Bank of America Stadium, the home of the Carolina Panthers, with kickoff set for 11:30 AM ET.
Both of these teams enter the matchup at 6-6 on the season. The Gamecocks notched big wins over Auburn and Florida late in the season to reach bowl eligibility for the first time in three seasons. Shane Beamer certainly exceeded national expectations in his first season on the sidelines in Columbia.
The Tar Heels, on the other hand, came into the year ranked in the top 10. That ranking quickly disappeared as North Carolina lost its season opener to Virginia Tech. While the team did not meet the expectation of reaching an ACC title game, the Heels were competitive throughout the year. A talented roster that boasts a potential first-round NFL Draft pick at quarterback played tough in close losses to the Hokies, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and North Carolina State.
Now, they’ll look to end the year with a win over border rival South Carolina in the season finale.
Gamecocks Injury Report vs. North Carolina for Duke’s Mayo Bowl
The South Carolina football team will be without three of its top performers today as QB Jason Brown, RB ZaQuandre White, and DL JJ Enagbare have opted out of the bowl matchup. Graduate transfer Zeb Noland will start under center with Brown out of the lineup. Below is the full injury report.
- Luke Doty – out
- ZaQuandre White – out
- Jason Brown – out
- JJ Enagbare – out
- Rick Sandidge – out
- Sherrod Greene – out
- Jaylin Dickerson – questionable
- Dylan Wonnum – questionable
Gamecocks vs. North Carolina Odds, Spread, Over/Under & Betting Pick
South Carolina enters this matchup as a 10-point underdog according to WynnBET. The Gamecocks hold +300 odds of winning outright while the Tar Heels’ money line odds sit at -370. The over/under is set at 58 points.
The Gamecocks will have the tough task of containing quarterback Sam Howell, who threw for 2,851 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Tar Heels also have a 1,000-yard receiver in Josh Downs and a 1,000-yard rusher in Ty Chandler. They’re scoring at a clip of more than 36 points per game.
Everyone knows about the high-flying North Carolina attack, but few may realize that South Carolina boasts a top 10 defense against the pass. Cam Smith and the Gamecock secondary have been phenomenal this year, but South Carolina has been susceptible to the run.
If they can hold that North Carolina group in check, there will be a chance for the Gamecocks to put points on the board. While the Tar Heels are potent on offense, they’re often forced to outscore their opponents as the defense is allowing nearly 32 points a contest.
Unfortunately, that’s an area where the Gamecocks have struggled. South Carolina has averaged just 21.3 points a game, a number that falls to 20.8 when Jason Brown isn’t starting under center. Will the Gamecocks capitalize on the Tar Heels’ dismal defense, or will they fall flat once again?
We’re expecting this game to stay rather low scoring. The Gamecocks topped 30 points just once against a Power Five opponent, so look for their score to stay in the 17-24 point range. North Carolina’s offense ended the year on a tear with 30-point outputs in five of the final six games, but we’re thinking the Gamecocks can hold them below their 36-point average.
Look for South Carolina’s pass defense to have some success holding Tar Heel receivers in check. The Gamecocks may not leave with a win but this one should stay competitive throughout.
Have a hunch on the game’s outcome? Make your pick now on WynnBET.
What Channel is the South Carolina Football Game?
The South Carolina football game will be televised on ESPN at 11:30 AM ET.
Gamecocks vs. North Carolina Live Stream
You can also stream the game live on Fubo TV.
Gamecocks’ Next Game and Schedule
This game will conclude the South Carolina football schedule. The Gamecocks will return next year with a season opening matchup against Georgia State on September 3, 2022.