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South Carolina vs. Texas A&M fearless prediction and game preview.
South Carolina vs. Texas A&M Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Kyle Field, College Station, TX
Network: SEC Network
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South Carolina (4-6) vs. Texas &M (6-3) Game Preview
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Why South Carolina Will Win
It’s desperation time for the Gamecocks.
The team has been able to play just well enough at times to shock Georgia, provide a push to Florida, and roll past Kentucky – let’s just look past the issues against the Tennessees and Appalachian States of the world, for now – with a decent enough defense to keep games close.
The pass rush isn’t consistent, but the line is just good enough to be a problem for the Aggie backfield.
Texas A&M plays a style that helps the Gamecocks. This isn’t some high-flying up-tempo team that can turn the lights out in three drives. A&M is methodical, cares about moving the chains and time of possession, and manages to to do just enough to keep both teams in the game.
A&M won, but it struggled against Arkansas and Ole Miss, with a rushing offense that’s just okay and without a whole lot of downfield pop to the passing game. The O line hasn’t been awful, but it’s beatable in pass protection.
South Carolina should have its opportunities in the second half – A&M won’t run away with this game. But …
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Why Texas A&M Will Win
South Carolina really doesn’t have a downfall passing game.
Ryan Hilinski has been excellent, and he’s thrown for 300 yards in two of the last three games, but he has only thrown more than one touchdown pass in one of the last seven games, and the team is averaging just 6.1 yards per pass.
There’s no enough explosion, and the running game isn’t doing enough to take over when the big plays aren’t there. The biggest problem with the O is the lack of third down conversions, and it all flows from there.
The offense doesn’t have the big plays, it sets itself up in too many third-and-long plays, and it’s only converting on 34% of its chances. That ties into the time of possession problems for a team that’s keeping the ball for only 28 minutes per game.
The Aggies have started rolling offensively a bit more lately, but this week, all they have to do is what they do – control the clock, play at their tempo, and have the ball for over 35 minutes.
Score a little bit early, and South Carolina won’t be able to keep up as long as the Aggies don’t start tuning the ball over.
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What’s Going To Happen
A&M has been ignored because of its 6-3 record, but who are those losses to?
CFP No. 3 Clemson, No. 4 Alabama, and No. 13 Auburn. It’s been able to handle the teams that aren’t among the season’s elite.
It’ll be a relatively low-scoring game with both teams keeping things relatively conservative, but Texas A&M does this a whole lot better. The Gamecock offense will barely hit the 300-yard mark.
South Carolina vs. Texas A&M Prediction, Line
Texas A&M 38, South Carolina 21
Bet on USC & A&M with BetMGM, or for latest line
Texas A&M -10.5, o/u: 50.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
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Must See Rating: 3
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