Tennessee Picked to Beat South Carolina 26-17, but Columbia Trip Flagged as a Trap Game
Tennessee travels to South Carolina on Saturday afternoon in a matchup being framed as a possible trap game, coming on the heels of a 26-10 rivalry win over Alabama. Despite that warning, the prediction is for the Volunteers to win 26-17 at Williams-Brice Stadium, a place that has caused them serious problems before. Losses there in 2016 helped derail their SEC East hopes, and the defeat in 2022 likely kept them out of the four-team College Football Playoff and ended quarterback Hendon Hooker's college career with a knee injury.
The case for Tennessee starts with a defense that has been among the best in the country. The Volunteers lead the FBS with 30 sacks, rank sixth nationally with 58 tackles for loss, and have collected 13 turnovers. Against Alabama they recorded five sacks, allowed only 54 rushing yards, and stopped 11 of 13 third-down attempts. Xavier Gilliam and Tyree Weathersby have combined for 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss up front, linebackers Amare Campbell and Arion Carter lead the team with 46 and 43 tackles, and new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has overseen the turnaround. On offense, running back DeSean Bishop is averaging nearly 120 rushing yards per game at six yards per carry after running for 159 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama, easing the load on redshirt freshman quarterback George MacIntyre, who is set for his second career road start.
South Carolina arrives rested after a bye week and with momentum from a surprising 38-19 win at Florida, a result that followed three straight losses, including an overtime defeat to Kentucky. Head coach Shane Beamer is under pressure, and the Gamecocks will likely need a big outing from quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who has accounted for 14 combined touchdowns while averaging a combined 291.5 passing and rushing yards. Receiver Nyck Harbor is averaging 16.4 yards per catch and running back Matt Fuller is averaging 81 rushing yards per game, while senior linebacker Justin Okoronkwo leads the defense with 43 tackles.
For Tennessee, the challenge is less about talent than about focus and history. Putting the Alabama win behind them, handling a road environment where strange results have followed them before, and keeping Sellers contained will decide whether Saturday becomes another Columbia setback. An afternoon kickoff may help, and the prediction is that a defense playing at this level will be enough to carry the Volunteers through.