This week’s opening odds aren’t in South Carolina’s favor, at least not to start the week.
The Gamecocks opened as a 6-point underdog in their upcoming matchup against SEC East foe Kentucky, according to the VegasInsider’s opening line. South Carolina will host the Wildcats in Williams-Brice Stadium at 7 p.m. this Saturday. Circa Sports opened with USC a 5.5-point underdog.
South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SEC) covered the 31.5-point spread in its SEC opener against Georgia, losing by 27 points in Athens, 40-13. It was the steepest spread in the history of the Bulldogs-Gamecocks matchup and the first loss for head coach Shane Beamer.
Kentucky (3-0, 1-0 SEC) comes into Columbia after escaping with a 28-23 win against FCS UT-Chattanooga last week. The Wildcats defeated Missouri, 35-28, in their first conference test on Sept. 11.
Through the first three weeks, Kentucky features the SEC’s leading rusher, running back Chris Rodriguez (377 yards on 59 carries), as well as its leading receiver in Wan’Dale Robinson (337 yards on 18 catches).
The South Carolina-Kentucky matchup will be televised on ESPN2. SEC Network’s gameday show, SEC Nation, will broadcast live from Columbia Saturday morning ahead of the game.