by Rod Pearson
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, October 24, 2026
Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
Where to Watch: ESPN, Disney+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Tennessee +2.5, South Carolina -2.5; Over/Under: 50.5 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Tennessee +2.5, South Carolina -2.5; Over/Under: 50.5 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Tennessee +2.5, South Carolina -2.5; Over/Under: 50.5 points
Season Record
Tennessee Volunteers: 6-1 (3-1) (3rd place, SEC)
South Carolina Gamecocks: 3-3 (1-3) (14th place, SEC)
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Recent Form
Tennessee Volunteers: won their last game at home against the Alabama Crimson Tide 26-10.
South Carolina Gamecocks: won their last game on the road against the Florida Gators 38-19.
Tennessee Volunteers vs South Carolina Gamecocks Preview and Analysis
Tennessee is entering this game with a 6-1 record overall and they have a 3-1 record in their conference games too. They are 4-1 in their home games, 2-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against Alabama 26-10. George MacIntyre was the starting QB and he completed 21/31 passes for 197 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception. DeSean Bishop led the team in rushing yards with 159 and 2 TDs. Mike Matthews led the receivers with 85 receiving yards on 7 receptions. Amare Campbell led the defense in that game with 8 tackles while Jeremiah Telander and Tyree Weathersby each led the defense in sacks with 2. Dejuan Lane and Kayin Lee each came away with 1 interception for them in that one.
South Carolina is entering this game with a 3-3 record overall and they have a 1-3 record in their conference games too. They are 2-2 in their home games, 1-1 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against Florida 38-19. LaNorris Sellers was the starting QB and he completed 23/35 passes for 279 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Matt Fuller led the team in rushing yards with 52. Nyck Harbor led the receivers with 83 receiving yards on 4 receptions and 1 TD. Peyton Williams led the defense in that game with 7 tackles while Dylan Stewart, Caleb Herring, and Troy Pikes each led the defense in sacks with 1. Vicari Swain and Justin Okoronkwo each came away with 1 interception for them in that one.
Tennessee vs South Carolina Prediction
The current betting odds have Tennessee listed as a 2.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Tennessee has looked really good in their games this season with their 6-1 record overall and their 3-1 conference record which has them right near the top of the SEC. They have been a good road team too with their 2-0 road record this year. Meanwhile, South Carolina hasn't looked great in their games this season with their 3-3 record overall and their 1-3 conference record which has them right near the bottom of the SEC. They haven't looked great on their home field either with their 2-2 home record this season. South Carolina is coming off a 38-19 road win over Florida and went right into their bye week after that. That was a much needed win after a terrible start to conference play, but that win still hasn't changed anything. South Carolina has been reeling over the last few weeks and their defense has looked terrible with the number of points they have been giving up in their games. Tennessee has been rolling in their games though. Their only loss was in a home game to Texas by 3 points, but they were coming back at the end and even had a chance to win that one. Their defense has looked elite all season, being one of the best in the SEC, and the offense has looked a lot better since making the switch to their backup QB. They are coming off a 26-10 win over Alabama in their last one which is going to give them a ton of momentum here and they should be able to beat up on a South Carolina team that has looked like one of the worst teams in the SEC. The best way to place a bet here is on Tennessee to cover the spread in this game.
Tennessee South Carolina Prediction: Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, October 24, 2026 (3:30 pm ET start time) is Tennessee 21 South Carolina 18.
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NCAAF Betting Trends
Tennessee Volunteers: 2-10 ATS off a win against a conference rival. 2-6 ATS versus good rushing teams - averaging 4.75 rushing yards/carry or more. 2-10 ATS versus good offensive teams - averaging 5.9 yards/play or more. 5-1 UNDER after 3 or more consecutive straight up wins. 7-4 UNDER vs. good offensive teams - scoring 31 or more points/game.
South Carolina Gamecocks: 8-3 ATS vesus good rushing teams - averaging 4.75 rushing yards/carry or more. 8-4 ATS vs. good offensive teams - scoring 31 or more points/game. 8-4 ATS in the second half of the season. 6-1 UNDER after scoring 37 points or more last game. 10-5 UNDER after 1 or more consecutive straight up wins.
Key Injuries
Tennessee Volunteers: B. Brady (LS) Out - Undisclosed. W. Moe Jr. (OG) Out - Undisclosed. J. Harmon (LB) Out - Knee.
South Carolina Gamecocks: M. Bennett Jr. (WR) Questionable - Undisclosed. J. Peak (OG) Questionable - Undisclosed. L. Anderson III (QB) Questionable - Undisclosed. G. Brownlow-Dindy (DL) Questionable - Upper Body. D. Stewart (DL) Out - Back. J. Sellers (WR) Out - Lower Body. J. Gibson (WR) Out - Lower Body.
Notable Quotes
“Great win. Defense, suffocating, elite performance. Really proud of those guys.” - Josh Heupel after his team’s win against Alabama in their last game.
“He was a freaking dude today. Some of the throws in tight windows, running the ball, just poised, confident.” - Shane Beamer on LaNorris Sellers after his team’s win against Florida in their last game.
Starting Lineups
Tennessee Volunteers
WR Jackson, Radarious
WR Matthews, Mike
WR Staley, Braylon
TE Brame, DaSaahn
QB MacIntyre, George
RB Bishop, DeSean
South Carolina Gamecocks
WR Tuggle, Nitro
WR Harbor, Nyck
WR Bennett Jr., Mazeo
TE Hunt, Brady
QB Sellers, LaNorris
RB Fuller, Matt
Statistical Leaders
Tennessee Volunteers
Passing: Faizon Brandon (697)
Rushing: DeSean Bishop (837)
Receiving: Mike Matthews (481)
Touchdowns: DeSean Bishop (10)
South Carolina Gamecocks
Passing: LaNorris Sellers (1,338)
Rushing: Matt Fuller (485)
Receiving: Nyck Harbor (278)
Touchdowns: Matt Fuller (6)
Coaches:
Tennessee Volunteers: Josh Heupel (6th season)
South Carolina Gamecocks: Shane Beamer (6th season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
