Tennessee football: 7.5 points is too many in Vols-Gamecocks rivalry

The Tennessee football team is heading to Columbia, SC to take on the South Carolina Saturday night. The Vols open as 7.5-point underdogs, and that’s just too many points.

Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee football team look to get back on track after a 58-21 beatdown from the Alabama Crimson Tide. The old saying, “throw the tape away and move on” applies for here. Watching the film on how much better Alabama is will not help the Vols make a bowl game.

Speaking of bowl games, Tennessee sits at 3-4 on the season needing three more wins to become bowl eligible. A win against the Gamecocks can go a long way in helping the Vols get to six wins. However, it won’t be an easy road; South Carolina opens as a 7.5-point favorite. Recent history shows that’s too many points.

Five of the past six games have been decided by three points or less. Last season was the outliner when the Gamecocks won 15-9. The game did, however, come down to the final seconds. It was 3rd and Goal from the two-yard line as Jarrett Guarantano dropped back and threw a dime to Brandon Johnson in the end zone, only to find he dropped the pass.

Take a look below at the past six games in the rivalry.

2017: South Carolina 15 – Tennessee 9

2016: South Carolina 24 – Tennessee 21

2015: South Carolina 24 – Tennessee 27

2014: South Carolina 42 – Tennessee 45 OT

2013: South Carolina 21 – Tennessee 23

2012: South Carolina 38 – Tennessee 35

As you can see this game has been one of the closest rivalries the Vols have played in recent seasons. The line of 7.5 points is too many. Last year was one of the worst years in Tennessee football history, and they would have covered the spread.

This season should be a different story. Jeremy Pruitt has the Vols playing hard, and they play for 60 minutes. Tennessee might not win the game, but it’s safe to say the game will be closer than 7.5.