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Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, Top 25 predictions for Week 1 of 2018

By Caleb Calhoun

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at South Carolina Gamecocks

Saturday, Sept. 1 at Noon; Williams-Brice Stadium; Columbia, S.C.

TV: SEC Network; Line: South Carolina -29.5; Over/Under: 57

Caleb Calhoun

All the hype is behind the South Carolina Gamecocks this year after Will Muschamp went 9-4 last season. But don’t read too much into it. He scored a bunch of ugly wins down the stretch against teams that were reeling, like the Michigan Wolverines, FCS schools like Wofford, or teams that fit both categories like Tennessee football.

They are slightly overrated, and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers went 3-9 their first season in FBS last year, almost beating the Arkansas Razorbacks. That was with the distraction of their coach, Joe Moglia, missing the season due to an illness. So this is a dangerous team. Okay, South Carolina will win easily. But it’ll be an ugly win, and they won’t cover.

South Carolina: 31 Coastal Carolina: 10 (Coastal Carolina +29.5; Under)

Billy Williford

Head coach of the Gamecocks Will Muschamp is entering his third year in Columbia. South Carolina finished with a 9-4 record last season and truthfully it could have been 11. This year a lot of people including myself expect that South Carolina will finish second in the Eastern division of the SEC.

This game will get out of hand and quickly. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is ready to go after a long offseason. Remember Samuel went down after three games into the season. His last game against Kentucky, Samuel had five receptions for 122 yards with one touchdown. Look for Samuel in the end zone at some point during the game. Throw some money at it and get rich by taking Coastal and the points.

South Carolina: 42 Coastal Carolina: 13 (Coastal Carolina +29.5; Under)

Garrett Sanders

South Carolina is a popular trending pick to upset the Georgia Bulldogs as the official preseason SEC East Champions. But before they play the Bulldogs next week, they face a very young, inexperienced team in Coastal Carolina. This game will be exciting to watch as South Carolina will have its fourth OC (Bryan McClendon) in seven years! South Carolina will be running the no-huddle offense this season. With Jake Bentley coming back also along with Deebo Samuel, this offense should be much more improved.

The Gamecocks Defensive Tackle and Middle Linebacker positions are inexperienced. This is where the Chanticleers will try to game plan to attack the middle of the field. Overall though, the Chanticleers are just too young and inexperienced to compete with the Gamecocks. I expect South Carolina to win this game and to cover the spread this week at 29.5 as well.

South Carolina: 56 Coastal Carolina: 10 (South Carolina -29.5; Over)

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