Arkansas-Texas A&M Highlights Week 5 Vegas SEC Predictions
Saturday Blitz Vegas SEC Predictions Week 5
Missouri Tigers at No. 13 South Carolina Gamecocks
Line: South Carolina by 5
Missouri’s youth and inexperience on defense finally got exposed this past weekend, and a trip to South Carolina the following week is not a welcome way to correct things. The Tigers appear to have serious issues up front that lost them the game to Indiana. If they are going to win Saturday in Columbia, they will have to find a way to somehow minimize that. With Spurrier expected to be Spurrier and put up lots of points with the Gamecocks, Maty Mauk and Missouri will need to match them on offense given the issues facing the defense. Missouri wants to make this a shootout to try to win the game, which could be a very hard thing to do.
South Carolina, meanwhile, looks like a completely different team from the one that lost the opener to Texas A&M. Dylan Thompson all of a sudden looks like a much more accurate passer, and he’s going to want to keep that up. Spurrier will also want to turn to the tandem of Mike Davis and particularly Brandon Wilds to put up lots of yards on the ground against a very weak Missouri rush defense. That will also keep this from turning into a shootout, which turns into an advantage for Missouri’s high-powered offense. The Gamecocks want to make the Tigers defense beat them, and if they keep it on the ground that’s what would have to happen.
Prediction
South Carolina will get the running game going early to build a comfortable lead against the Tigers at home. Missouri will threaten in the second half and put up a respectable showing, but it won’t be enough to get a win. The Gamecocks will get the victory and move to 4-1.
South Carolina: 38 Missouri: 24