Tennessee Opens as Only a 1.5-Point Favorite on the Road at South Carolina

Tennessee did just about everything right on Saturday night, beating Alabama to move to 6-1 and jump into the middle of the College Football Playoff race. The reward is a road trip to Columbia, and the oddsmakers expect a fight: FanDuel opened the Volunteers as just 1.5-point favorites over South Carolina.

There are reasons for the tight number. The Gamecocks are coming off their bye week, and before the break, Shane Beamer's team — sitting at 2-3 and reeling — went to Florida and stunned the Gators 38-19 behind four touchdown passes from LaNorris Sellers. South Carolina has had two full weeks to prepare for Tennessee.

History adds to the unease. Williams-Brice Stadium has repeatedly been a problem for the Volunteers, most painfully in 2022, the last time Tennessee played in Columbia and saw a special season take a serious hit. The Vols also lost there in 2018 and 2016, and even their wins in 2020 and 2014 were close calls. Very little has come easily in that building.

Tennessee's best answer might be its defense. Jim Knowles' unit ranks among the best in the country and will be tasked with containing Sellers and the Gamecock offense. A 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN at least spares the Vols a night game in Columbia. After Saturday, Tennessee gets its bye week, then closes with Kentucky, a trip to Texas A&M, LSU and Vanderbilt — a stretch that will decide just how far this season goes.