Tag: Kentucky vs South Carolina

Staff picks for Kentucky football versus South Carolina Gamecocks

The UKWildcatsWire staff makes their picks for Kentucky football against South Carolina.

Who wins when Kentucky football takes on South Carolina on Saturday?

Kentucky football started the 2024 season with a big win, defeating Southern Miss in a weather-shortened game 31 – 0. It was what fans were hoping to see with a new quarterback and a new offensive coordinator on board.

This week, the Wildcats play their first game against SEC competition this season, when South Carolina comes to Lexington. The Gamecocks won a close one last week, so both teams enter the week with a 1 – 0 record.

Related: Interview with former Kentucky receiver Keenan Burton

Currently, most experts are predicting a Kentucky victory on Saturday. How does the staff of UKWildcatsWire feel? Here are the pics from the writers.

Vance Meek – Lead Writer

Kentucky 27 – South Carolina 21

The Wildcats veteran leaders, especially on defense, will prove to be key to the game. Vandagriff makes just enough plays to keep Kentucky in front, and the defense forces a turnover late to prevent a comeback. Look for the receivers to have another big game.

Steve Holley – Contributor

Kentucky 24 – South Carolina 16

As Mark Stoops pointed out this week, these two teams almost always play close games. Only a few have been decided by more than 7 – 10 points since Stoops’ first year in Lexington. I see the Wildcats coming out on top in this one before their big week three challenge against Georgia.

Donovan James – Contributor

Kentucky 27 – South Carolina 13

Kentucky’s defensive line will dominate the front of the Gamecocks and cause LaNorris Sellers to struggle. Vandagriff will continue to settle in as quarterback of the new Wildcats offense.

The Wildcats and Gamecocks kickoff at 3:30 PM ET on Saturday afternoon. The winner will get to 2 – 0 on the year.

Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction, Game Preview

Kentucky vs South Carolina game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 6 game on Saturday, October 8

Kentucky vs South Carolina prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 6, Saturday, October 8

Kentucky vs South Carolina How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 8
Game Time: 6:30 ET
Venue: Kroger Field, Lexington, KY
How To Watch: SEC Network
Record: Kentucky (4-1), South Carolina (3-2)
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Kentucky vs South Carolina Game Preview

Why South Carolina Will Win

There are too many interceptions and too many inconsistencies, but the Gamecocks are winging it around.

Spencer Rattler has thrown four touchdown passes and seven picks, but he’s doing a whole lot of things that make the NFL scouts drool. Few quarterbacks in the country – including Billy Blue Jeans on the other side – can drive a pass like he can, the Gamecock offense has pushed for close to 1,000 yards over the last two weeks, and there’s a running game, too.

Kentucky is a bit beaten up.

Will Levis is fine even after hurting his hand in the loss to Ole Miss, but while it was battling in Oxford in a 22-19 soul-crusher, South Carolina was tuning up against South Carolina State last week after beating Charlotte.

Kentucky is very, very good, but the offensive line isn’t blocking well enough for the relatively non-existent running game that’s averaging 2.5 yards per pop, and the defensive front isn’t getting behind the line.

But …

– NFL Expert Picks, Week 5

Why Kentucky Will Win

Yeah, Rattler looks amazing … right up until he gets picked.

Kentucky isn’t taking the ball away enough, and it’s -3 in turnover margin – including a very, very big fumble against Ole Miss – but Levis really is just that good for a passing game that’s moving the chains.

No, the O line isn’t playing well enough and the running game isn’t doing what it’s supposed to, but Chris Rodriguez is back and he’s about to make a bigger difference after opening with 72 yards against the Rebels.

The South Carolina run defense hasn’t been good enough against good teams – Arkansas and Georgia did what they wanted – and there’s little to no pass rush to take advantage of the UK issues up front.

– Schedules, Previews College | NFL

What’s Going To Happen

Kentucky might have more good parts now, and it might have a future NFL franchise quarterback, but it’s still doing Kentucky things.

It just doesn’t have the ability make things easy on itself.

South Carolina has been taking the ball away over the last two weeks, but that will slow down this week. Rodriguez and the UK running game will finally start to take the pressure off, the defense will do its normal bending without breaking, and the team will overcome a terrific day from Rattler.

Picking him off two times will help.

– CFN Expert Picks, Week 6

Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction, Line

Kentucky 34, South Carolina 23
Line: Kentucky -10.5, o/u: 49
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Kentucky vs South Carolina Must See Rating (out of 5): 3

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Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Kentucky vs South Carolina prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Tuesday.

Kentucky vs South Carolina prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Tuesday, February 8

Kentucky vs South Carolina How To Watch

Date: Tuesday, February 8
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Kentucky (19-4), South Carolina (13-9)
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Kentucky vs South Carolina Game Preview

Why Kentucky Will Win

Kentucky has been on a roll since the loss to Auburn.

It roasted Kansas, it stuffed Alabama, and it’s been able to rise up with eight wins in the last nine games before it’a rebounding well, the defense has been good enough from three, and the shooting inside has been its normal stellar self.

No, this isn’t the most consistent team around, but that’s okay. South Carolina isn’t going to shoot the lights out from three, and it’s going to give the ball up over and over and over again for easy points, but …

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Why South Carolina Will Win

This Gamecock team is something fierce inside considering there’s not a ton of size when Wildens Leveque isn’t out there.

There’s a deep bench full of parts that keep attacking everything, forces a slew of mistakes, and goes hard after every miss on the offensive end. You can’t hang with Kentucky if you’re not at least close in rebounding margin, and South Carolina can do that.

However …

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What’s Going To Happen

South Carolina is unable to come up with much in a shootout.

It’s a team built on toughness, defense, and keeping games in range. If it can keep Kentucky in the low 70s, there’s a shot, In the 60s, and this gets interesting at home.

The Gamecocks are 8-0 when keeping opponents to under 66 points.

Kentucky has been under 66 just three times this year. It’ll get pushed, but it’ll pull away on a few good scoring runs late in the first half.

Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction, Lines

Kentucky 77, South Carolina 64
Line: Kentucky -11, o/u: 141.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Wordle
1: Anyone who goes on social media and gives away the day’s Wordle

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Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction, Game Preview

Kentucky vs South Carolina prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, September 25

Kentucky vs South Carolina prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, September 25

Kentucky vs South Carolina How To Watch

Date: Saturday, September 25
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: Kentucky (3-0), South Carolina (2-1)
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Kentucky vs South Carolina Game Preview

Why Kentucky Will Win

The Wildcats can get out of September 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the SEC with a win.

It hasn’t always been pretty, getting past Missouri in a good fight and needing to do way too much work to get through Chattanooga 28-23. However, the new-look offense threw well at times over the first three weeks, ran great against Missouri, and it’s been able to move the chains.

South Carolina is fighting the good rebuilding fight, but the offense is the worst among all SEC teams so far, the offensive line is giving up way too many sacks, and there a few too many turnovers.

The team isn’t good enough to overcome any misfires. It has to be perfect, and it won’t be. However …

– Week 4 College Football Expert Picks

Why South Carolina Will Win

Kentucky has a mega-issue with turnovers.

It’s been able to overcome the problems, but the O has given it up eight times – Chattanooga got a big help from the three takeaways. The Gamecocks will get the ball, and they have to convert.

The offense hasn’t been great at moving the chains, but the UK defense has a huge problems on third downs allowing offenses to convert 45% of their tries. This is where the running game has to kick in.

South Carolina might not be getting things going like it should – there’s way too much talent in the backfield; Kevin Harris is just getting into the swing of things after back surgery – and it has to work at home.

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What’s Going To Happen

South Carolina couldn’t do anything against Georgia – big deal.

This isn’t that bad a team as it tries to find its footing under Shane Beamer. The defensive front has been good enough so far against the run, and it’s going to make Kentucky throw.

Will Levis might not keep with his average of ten yards per throw, but the Gamecocks will hit enough downfield throws to overcome the turnovers and mistakes.

– Week 3 NFL Expert Picks

Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction, Line

Kentucky 27, South Carolina 20
Line: Kentucky -5, o/u: 48.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: Muhammad Ali film by Ken Burns
1: Dear Evan Hansen

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Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction, Game Preview

Kentucky Wildcats vs South Carolina Gamecocks prediction and game preview.

Kentucky vs South Carolina prediction and game preview.

Kentucky vs South Carolina Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 5
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Kroger Field, Lexington, KY
Network: SEC Network

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Kentucky (3-6) vs South Carolina (2-7) Game Preview

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Why South Carolina Will Win

The Kentucky offense really, really isn’t working.

South Carolina might be having a whole slew of issues – and the real focus is on finding a new head coach – but this is the perfect team to deal with at just the right time.

Okay, okay, okay, so UK couldn’t get the O going against Alabama, Florida and Georgia over the last four games – not a whole lot to shame there. However, it only gained 145 yards against Missouri and 157 against Mississippi State as part of a brutal run six games in seven without hitting 300 yards of total O.

The Cats have no downfield passing game, no pass rush or pressure in the backfield, and there are way too many stalled drives.

A low scoring slugfest – that’s perfect for the Gamecocks, because …

– Week 14 College Schedule

Why Kentucky Will Win

Yeah, you know that whole offense thing the kids are all into? South Carolina doesn’t do a whole lot of that.

The Gamecocks got into a fun fight with Ole Miss, but outside of that, the O hasn’t done anything over the past month mainly because the offensive line isn’t getting the job done.

The backfield isn’t getting time to work – USC leads the SEC in most tackles for loss allowed – the defense isn’t coming up with enough third down stops, and the defensive side isn’t doing its part with no pressure and few sacks.

Here’s the thing, though – South Carolina isn’t producing because it’s not playing well. Kentucky isn’t getting a whole lot numbers-wise because that’s partly how it rolls.

– CFN Experts Picks: College

What’s Going To Happen

The Kentucky defense is better than it seems. Getting ripped of at Alabama and Florida over a two-game span will screw anyone up – but there problems against Vanderbilt, too.

South Carolina isn’t going to find its O this week, but it’ll hang around enough in a good four-quarter fight. Kentucky will have the ball more and do a better job of controlling the clock.

Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction, Line

Kentucky 23, South Carolina 16
Bet on Kentucky vs South Carolina with BetMGM
Kentucky -11.5, o/u: 47.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Gangs of London
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