South Carolina Gamecocks at Missouri Tigers
Line: Missouri -9.5; Over/Under: 61.5; TV: SEC Network
Saturday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. E.T.; Faurot Field; Columbia, Mo.
If any team had as close to a rough start as Tennessee football, it was the South Carolina Gamecocks. Although both teams AND the Missouri Tigers all lost their opening games, and all of them were upsets. Mizzou appears to have rebounded better, as they have blown out their last two opponents, including the West Virginia Mountaineers, to get to 2-1.
To be fair, S.C. did have to face the Alabama Crimson Tide last week. And you can say what you want, but Will Muschamp did cover with that last second touchdown. Now he travels to Columbia with an offense that hasn’t really missed a beat under Ryan Hilinski.
That offense will face a Missouri defense that, as is typical under Barry Odom, is a bit questionable only because of the tempo of his offense. Derek Dooley’s pro-style still looks to score a lot, and Kelly Bryant has that thing going. With this game in Columbia, Mizzou will want to pour it on early.
Prediction
Despite two former defensive coordinators calling the shots, this game will be somewhat of a shootout. We’re pretty confident that it hits the over here. The question is the spread. Although Mizzou will win, nine and a half in their favor seems like a good bit. We’re going to go ahead and take them to cover on the premise that they dominate early. So take the spread and the over.