FiveDimes recently released over/under regular season win totals for college football teams.
Here is an early season look at the South Carolina Gamecocks in the SEC.
Over/under
FiveDimes has South Carolina at seven regular season wins. Last year, the Gamecocks were 6-6 in the regular season. The line features an even return on the over/under at -120.
The upside
South Carolina can’t get any worse on defense, right?
The Gamecocks opened 2014 by allowing 55 points to Texas A&M and the trials of 2014 were just starting. The Gamecocks finished the year ranked 92nd in total defense and they didn’t get any pressure on the opposing quarterback, ranking toward the bottom of FBS in those categories.
New defensive coordinator Jon Hoke will now try to rejuvenate a defense that couldn’t stop anyone last year. There are some pieces returning and with Hoke’s college and NFL experience, he should be able to mold this defense into a far better unit that last year’s.
Offensively, South Carolina must replace quarterback Dylan Thompson. Sophomore Connor Mitch is the likely fill-in, but he has little college experience. He should have quality targets to throw to, as Pharoh Cooper returns as the top wide receiver for the Gamecocks. Also, Brandon Shell will anchor the offensive line at the tackle position. He has started more than 35 games in his career.
The downside
Bettors will find out early if South Carolina is ready to improve upon its lackluster 2014 performances.
The season’s first six games should provide tests, with home games against Kentucky, Central Florida, LSU, road games against Georgia and Missouri, and a neutral field game against North Carolina.
The Gamecocks should be favored in at least three of those contests, but it won’t be by much. South Carolina is going to have to replace holes on the offensive line, quarterback, running back and defensive line. That could be a tall task with that many toss-up games in the early part of the season.
The end of the season, isn’t that easy, either, with road trips to Texas A&M and Tennessee, and home games against Florida and Clemson. As with those early six games, these aren’t unwinnable games, but these won’t be games where either team will likely be heavy favorites.
The verdict
Sure, South Carolina misses Alabama, Mississippi, Auburn, Mississippi State and Arkansas. But that schedule still isn’t easy. There’s not many games where it’s easy to determine that South Carolina would win. There’s also not many games where it can be predicted the Gamecocks will lose.
This team should have a sense of urgency this year and with head Steve Spurrier, bettors should expect a better product. But that product won’t be good enough to win eight games. Take the under and watch the South Carolina defense and offense struggle.
