|   | College Football - South Carolina vs. Alabama |
| October 15, 2009 |
College Football Betting Preview and Pick - (22) South Carolina at (2) Alabama (Saturday 7:45 ET)
By Mitch Wilson
Two SEC rivals meet for the first time in four years as the Alabama Crimson Tide host the South Carolina Gamecocks.
 Alabama is off to a monster start this season and are receiving votes as the number one team in the country.
While there is little to do to control how people vote, the Tide just need to keep winning and if they do that they know their destiny is in their own hands.
It hardly seems like a little over a month ago many were concerned with a first year starter at QB and losses along the offensive front in Tuscaloosa.
It is obvious that the Tide put a lot into conditioning being the reason for last season's late losses that arguably cost the Tide the National Title and this team is in top condition.
When the second half and fourth quarter have come around, Alabama has clearly looked like the fresher and stronger team all the way around.
The Tide defense has been on lock down against both the run and the pass and the offense has been playing well within itself and utilizing everything, especially their strong stable of running backs.
It is going to take a huge effort to beat Alabama this season and even then it make take Alabama making some costly mistakes as well.
South Carolina made believers out of a lot of people a few weeks back when they got a Thursday Night win against Ole Miss. This is clearly a different Gamecock squad as they have more offense then we have seen in the past several years with Stephen Garcia at QB.
With Garcia, it gives South Carolina options that they haven't had as his mobility opens things up as does his arm.
On the defensive side, South Carolina has been the same rock we have grown accustomed to the past several seasons though we have seen them stumble and allow other teams to go on so runs. South Carolina gave up a lot of yards on the ground last week and if that isn't something they improve on right away, this could be a very long day for the Gamecocks.
Alabama is 4-0 against the spread in their last four as a favorite, 6-2 against the spread in their last eight home, games and 7-1 against the spread in their last eight SEC games.
South Carolina is 4-1 against the number in their last five as an underdog of 10 or more points, 13-6 against the spread in their last 19 road games, but just 1-4 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record.
I think South Carolina is improved but I think they are in big trouble in this spot. I do not think the way Kentucky ran for over 200 yards against the Gamecocks is a good omen and I think Alabama puts some drives together and really takes South Carolina out of their gameplan and then lets the defense take over.
Mitch's Pick: Alabama -17 (-109) available at 5Dimes.com.
Check out the college football betting forum for more picks and information for Week 7. |
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