The South Carolina Gamecocks host the Clemson Tigers for a Week 14 matchup on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET in Columbia, South Carolina.
The Gamecocks are listed as 2.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the game’s total set at 46.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction, and best bet for this matchup between these two out-of-conference rivals.
Clemson vs. South Carolina prediction, preview
Clemson Preview
It has been a terribly disappointing season for Clemson. The Tigers entered the season as odds-on favorites to win the ACC, and many considered them serious national title contenders. Clemson lost the season opener to LSU and never recovered as a team. Cade Klubnik was very underwhelming in a season where he was a preseason Heisman favorite, and the defense was nowhere near the standard that had been set at Clemson over the past decade. In a relatively weak ACC, Clemson has not been able to consistently turn in good performances. They limped their way to six wins to become bowl eligible, so this game’s only significance is bragging rights against their in-state rivals.
South Carolina Preview
It has also been a disappointing season for the Gamecocks. Just like Clemson, South Carolina entered the season with a Heisman candidate at quarterback and College Football Playoff aspirations. Unfortunately, poor offensive line play, incompetent offensive coaching, and a lack of skill position weapons cost the Gamecocks. South Carolina has been close to pulling off a couple of major upsets, against Alabama and Texas A&M, but ended up finishing conference play with just one SEC win. The Gamecocks are out of bowl contention with just four wins, but they would love to take down their rivals to close out the season.
Clemson vs. South Carolina pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is for South Carolina to cover as 2.5-point favorites. Both of these teams have had bad seasons, but there is a major difference in the level of competition that they have faced. The Gamecocks rank fourth in the nation in strength of schedule, while Clemson ranks 71st. Despite having two fewer wins, South Carolina ranks nine spots higher than Clemson in strength of record. Between the two offenses and two defenses featured in this game, the South Carolina defense is the best unit on the field. Despite that tough schedule, the Gamecocks rank 21st in the nation in defensive EPA/play. They should be able to shut Clemson down, just like last season when the Tigers scored just 14 points in a home loss.
The South Carolina offense was the team’s issue all season, but it has seen a real boost since making a change at offensive coordinator. The Gamecocks fired Mike Shula, and the new play-calling boosted the offense significantly. Despite blowing that game in devastating fashion, South Carolina scored 30 points on the road against No. 3 Texas A&M. Then, last week, they scored 51 points against a Coastal Carolina team that had been playing quite well. With more rollouts and quick passes for LaNorris Sellers, the offense looks much more explosive. South Carolina is the better team on both sides of the ball at the moment and has the home-field advantage. They should win this rivalry game and cover the short spread.
