Following the return of NFL-caliber signal caller Spencer Rattler and his best offensive weapon, Antwane Wells Jr.,, the Gamecocks have set their expectations to improve from their previous campaign and compete among the top contenders in America’s toughest conference.
Entering the 2023 season, South Carolina will aim to extend its momentum after an 8-5 record, their strongest finish since 2017, despite a disappointing Gator Bowl outcome against Notre Dame.
Their highlights of the season included a road victory over Clemson and a thrashing of the Tennessee Volunteers, capturing a final AP ranking of 23. The win over the Volunteers in particular would have sent shock waves across hypothetical South Carolina sports betting.
The Gamecocks (+1000) have the tenth-best odds to win the SEC Championship over at BetMGM Sportsbook, while Rattler (+6500) finds himself on the list, if not shortlist, of potential Heisman candidates. Both options could offer enticing upside value for backers to consider. Why? The Gamecocks are poised to deliver their best season under Shane Beamer’s third year at the helm and Rattler is ready to present his case as a potential first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Gamecocks' O/U wins have been set at 6.5, a one-game increase from last year. Between Beamer retaining the majority of last season’s roster and the exciting partnership of Rattler and Wells Jr., these factors will convince many bettors to back the Gamecocks and their long-shot odds of surprising not only the SEC but maybe even the College Football Playoff committee.
However, sportsbooks across the country will be focusing on a three-game stretch on the Gamecocks’ schedule that will either make or break their season.
Methodology
BetSouthCarolina.com created a point system to determine the toughest 3-game stretch of the Gamecocks’ 2023 schedule for the upcoming college football season. We awarded 4 points to each opponent that won at least 7 games last season, 3 points to each opponent that won at least 6 games, 3 points for an away game, and 2 points for a conference opponent.
Toughest Stretch of USC’s Schedule Is...
Gamecocks Brace For Toughest 3-Game Stretch
The Gamecocks face their most challenging stretch of three games all on the road, beginning with a showdown against the defending national champions, Georgia, in Week 3. The Bulldogs, the BetMGM favorites to repeat as SEC (-105) and National Champions (+250), will test the Gamecocks and assess whether their roster is ready to compete against the country’s elite programs.
The game will promise excitement, featuring South Carolina’s explosive offense pitted against a frightening Bulldogs defense.
The following week, the Gamecocks will travel to Starkville, Mississippi and face the other set of Bulldogs. Mississippi State and South Carolina share a similar journey, as both finished the last season strong, capped with a bowl appearance and listed in the final AP rankings. However, the Bulldogs (+7500) have slightly better odds than the Gamecocks to win the SEC.
The final game of this difficult stretch will be settled in Knoxville, Tennessee, as they face the Volunteers. If based on last year’s meeting, expect a fireworks show of points, points, and more points. The Gamecocks upset Tennessee, 63-38, delivering a stellar performance by Spencer and Wells Jr.
This year, do not expect much to change in terms of offensive firepower. Joe Milton will be returning for his final season and is a Heisman candidate (+2500) to look out for. The Volunteers are currently +1700 to win the SEC.
Follow BetSouthCarolina.com for more USC updates, plus the latest information on South Carolina sports betting legislation.
Also of interest: The Toughest Stretch of Clemson’s 2023 Football Schedule.
