Alabama South Carolina – The Tide Try To Continue Rolling Toward Another SEC Championship
Yes, there’s no better team in college football right now than the Alabama Crimson Tide. Bama will try to avoid an upset this Saturday against South Carolina.
NCAA football betting: Alabama Crimson Tide @ South Carolina Gamecocks
Online Betting Odds: Alabama -7
Why To Bet On Alabama
Why would you not bet on Alabama at this point? The Crimson Tide are playing as well as any college football team in America. Nick Saban’s ballclub survived its big road scare against the Arkansas Razorbacks, and after getting through that test, the Tide seemed to be mentally liberated on their home field last weekend, as the defending national champions of college football blasted the Florida Gators, 31-6. Everything that has defined Bama’s resurgence under Saban emerged in this game. First and foremost, Bama owned the trenches on both sides of the ball. After intercepting a Florida pass on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the first quarter, the Tide completely controlled the tempo and flow of the game, rearing back and punching the Gators in the mouth with their signature smashmouth style. Running backs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson wore down Florida’s front seven. Quarterback Greg McElroy – after throwing two very bad interceptions the week before at Arkansas – settled down against Florida and played a typical mistake-free game. Bama’s young defense got gashed a number of times against Arkansas, but all the mistakes made on Sept. 25 were cleaned up on Oct. 2, as the Tide’s back line of defense didn’t give up a single home-run touchdown pass to Florida. Basically, this is a team that’s operating at the height of its powers right now. Saban has found a way to produce relatively consistent performances on a weekly basis. You know what to expect with this team, and it has a way of tending to the business at hand with a steely focus. This is a team that should not trip up en route to yet another SEC championship. No one in the conference appears ready to take this team down.
Why To Bet On South Carolina
The South Carolina Gamecocks are playing this game at home. Moreover, they’re coming off a bye week and will be fresh for the physical and punishing style of the Crimson Tide. Because Carolina will be rested, freshman sensation Marcus Lattimore – easily the best freshman running back in college football – will be able to be used extensively against Bama. Carolina coach Steve Spurrier will try to use Lattimore as much as possible, because quarterback Stephen Garcia is very turnover-prone. As for Garcia, the week off will enable this talented but erratic performer to focus on the things he needs to do to improve as a quarterback. Garcia will be motivated to make this the breakout game of an up-and-down career in Columbia, South Carolina.
The other big reason to pick South Carolina is that Alabama is coming off a grueling two-week stretch against Arkansas and Florida, arguably the second- and third-best teams in the SEC. Bama is a better team than South Carolina, but the rested Gamecocks might get the Tide on a down week. This is what bettors and pigskin pundits call a “trap game” for the Tide.
How The Game Will Play Out
Trap game? Forget about it. Alabama is too good and too physical for South Carolina, who needs a great game – not just a good one – from Garcia in order to win. History tells us that Garcia will fall far short of that standard. Alabama will roll on Saturday. It’s really surprising this number is as small as it is.
Alabama South Carolina Betting Pick: Alabama
