100 Simulations Show Tennessee and South Carolina Separated by Almost Nothing

Tennessee's matchup with South Carolina projects as a coin flip, at least according to a simulation exercise reported by Yahoo Sports. The game was simulated 100 times, and the results could hardly have come out any closer between the Volunteers and the Gamecocks.

A split that tight offers no clear favorite, which fits the stakes of an SEC meeting between the two programs. Instead of pointing to a comfortable edge for either side, the repeated simulations suggest small moments — a turnover, a key stop or a late drive — could be what separates the winner from the loser.

For Tennessee, that means preparation for South Carolina has to assume a four-quarter fight rather than a game that breaks open early. If the simulations are any guide, the Volunteers should expect to have to finish the job late.