The South Carolina Gamecocks dropped to 2-1 on the season after blowing a 16-0 lead at home against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs scored 27 unanswered points at one point in the game, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw two interceptions.
The second half felt disappointingly similar to how games went last year in Columbia. Unfortunately for the Gamecocks, they have their toughest test yet this upcoming week, set to go on the road to face the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Under head coach Kaln DeBoer, the Tide are off to a 3-0 start, with wins over East Carolina, Kentucky and a 50-36 win over Florida State this past weekend.
So, what does Las Vegas think early on of South Carolina's chances against the Tide? Let's take a look at the early odds.
The Gamecocks have opened as 11.5-point favorites against Alabama, which sounds about right for this game. Although South Carolina played great on defense its first two weeks, the unit fell flat against Kamario Taylor and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
In their first three games, Alabama is 47.3 points per game, putting the Tide seventh nationally in scoring offense. South Carolina, meanwhile, is tied for 36th nationally in scoring defense, giving up 16.7 points per game. But that small number is helped by South Carolina's Week 1 shutout against Kent State.
The last time the Gamecocks beat Alabama came in 2010, during which South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia delivered an unforgettable 35-21 upset of the then-No. 1 ranked Tide. The win marked one of head coach Steve Spurrier's biggest wins of his career at Williams-Brice Stadium. Prior to that game, the Gamecocks' history against Alabama isn't great. South Carolina hasn't won in Tuscaloosa since 2004.
If you're one to read into recent history against the Tide, it's not the best track record for head coach Shane Beamer against Alabama. He is 0-2 against Alabama, although both losses were one-score games.
The Gamecock defense will have to defend another mobile quarterback in Keelon Russell, who has thrown for 764 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions so far.
"We’ll be defined, this team will, by how we respond from this night," Beamer said via Gamecock Central after the loss to MSU. I know the type of young men that we have on this football team. I know the leadership that we have on this football team, and we will respond the right way. Eager to get back to work with these guys and see if we can be better next Saturday night in Tuscaloosa against a really, really good Alabama team."
South Carolina will need a huge bounceback week of practice, during which its numerous mistakes are corrected in a hurry if it wants to have a chance against Alabama.
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