The South Carolina Gamecocks are 4-3 on the season, and coming off another huge upset over the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers. While the players and staff will likely be enjoying another big SEC win, it's never too early to start looking ahead to South Carolina's next opponent.
Next week, the Gamecocks will go on the road to take on the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma is coming off of a 23-15 road win over an injury-riddled Mississippi State Bulldogs. The win improved Oklahoma's record to 4-3, matching South Carolina's record with its win over Tennessee.
But despite two back-to-back upset wins by the Gamecocks over ranked opponents in Florida and Tennessee, the Las Vegas oddsmakers still favor the Sooners early. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, South Carolina has opened as a 3.5-point underdog against the Sooners.
Odds change periodically and are subject to change.
Now there is a possibility that this line could shift throughout the week. Last week, the Tennessee Volunteers opened as slight favorites over South Carolina, but the line shifted to the Gamecocks as the week went on. Still, even after back-to-back upset wins, it's a bit surprising that South Carolina isn't slightly favored or the line is even. Perhaps South Carolina could use that as motiviation early in the week.
For now though, Vegas likes the Sooners early in this one. These two teams have met just twice before, with the series split at one game a-piece. South Carolina won the first meeting in 2024 in Norman 35-9, and Oklahoma took the second meeting that was in Columbia last season 26-7. The 2024 meeting was the first-ever meeting in program history for the two schools on the gridiron.
While of course, the game being in Norman is also likely a factor here. Vegas is also perhaps looking at common opponents that both teams have played to set the line. South Carolina lost to Mississippi State, although Oklahoma didn't have to face a healthy Kamario Taylor. The Sooners also played and lost to Kentucky, falling 21-13 two weeks ago at home.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has plenty of familiarity with Oklahoma and the Sooners football program. Right before he was hired as South Carolina's head coach, he spent 2018-2020 as the Sooners' associate head coach and tight ends coach. He served former Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley before his departure for USC.
Saturday's game will kick off at 4:15 p.m. ET and air live on SEC Network. A win for Coach Beamer and the Gamecocks would put South Carolina at just one game away from bowl eligibility.
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