South Carolina Gamecocks vs Missouri Tigers Picks and Predictions November 16th 2024

South Carolina Gamecocks vs Missouri Tigers November 16th 2024

SEC Network will be covering this week 12 college football matchup between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Missouri Tigers. Kick-off is set for 4:15 ET from Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The over/under line is currently at 44.5 points, with South Carolina favored at -13.5. The Gamecocks are 6-3 on the season, while the Tigers come in at 7-2. The money line odds are -559 for South Carolina and +399 for Missouri.

Missouri vs. South Carolina Key Information

Missouri enters Week 12 against South Carolina with a 7-2 record, holding the 25th spot in our power rankings. They are a perfect 4-0 at home this season but have gone 1-2 on the road. The Tigers are already bowl-eligible, but they have just a 0.2% chance of winning the Southeastern, according to our projections.

Missouri has been favored in four of their nine games, going 4-0 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +9.6 points per game, and they are 4-3 against the spread. At home, they are 3-1 ATS and have a 2-1 record as the favorite.

The over/under line for this week is 44.5 points. Missouri’s games have averaged 46.4 points, and their over/under record is 2-5. Their average over/under line this season has been 49.9 points, with an average margin of -4.1 points.

Missouri’s offense is averaging 28 points per game heading into week 12, placing them 51st in the nation. They rank 71st in our offensive power rankings. The Tigers have focused on their ground game, averaging 38 rushing attempts per game and 169.7 rushing yards.

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Brady Cook leads the passing attack with 1,575 yards and a 62.8% completion rate. He has thrown seven touchdowns and just one interception, earning a passer rating of 93. Missouri ranks 13th nationally in third-down conversions, converting 47.8% of their attempts.

Missouri’s defense has been solid this season, ranking 14th nationally by allowing just 18.4 points per game. They’ve given up 133.7 rushing yards per game and 161.4 passing yards, which is also 14th in the country.

In their latest game against Oklahoma, Missouri’s defense allowed 23 points, giving up 257 total yards. Oklahoma ran the ball 36 times for 122 yards and threw for 135 yards on 17 completions.

South Carolina enters Week 12 with a 6-3 record, but they are 100% guaranteed to be bowl-eligible. They are ranked 14th in our power rankings but have no chance of winning the Southeastern. However, they have a 13.6% chance of making the playoff, which is 20th in the country.

The Gamecocks are 3-2 at home and 3-1 on the road this season. They’ve been favored in four of their nine games and are 4-0 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +12.7 points per game, and they have a 7-2 record against the spread.

South Carolina’s over/under record is 5-4, with an average line of 45.9 points. They’ve averaged 47.8 points per game, and their average margin against the over/under is +1.8 points. This week’s line is set at 44.5 points.

South Carolina’s offense ranks 41st in scoring, averaging 30.2 points per game, and they are 55th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 12. Their rushing game is the focal point, with 42.6 attempts per game, placing them 13th nationally. They average 183.7 rushing yards per game.

Raheim Sanders leads the rushing attack with 696 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has thrown for 1,450 yards, with nine touchdowns and four interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 92.

South Carolina’s defense has been strong this season, ranking 11th nationally by allowing just 17.6 points per game. They also rank 27th in rushing yards allowed, giving up 113.8 yards per game, and 46th in passing yards, allowing 194.1 yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of just 65 and a completion rate of 55.1% against them.

In their recent game against Vanderbilt, South Carolina’s defense gave up only 7 points, allowing 274 total yards. Vanderbilt rushed 28 times for 108 yards and completed 16 of 31 passes for 166 yards.

Our projection for this week 12 matchup between South Carolina and Missouri is a 29-12 win for South Carolina. With South Carolina being -13.5 point favorites, we see them covering the spread.

For the over/under, with the line sitting at 44.5 points, we recommend taking the under, as our model has these teams combining for 41 points.

No. 21 South Carolina Seeks to End Missouri’s Dominance

It’s been a tough three-year stretch for South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer against Missouri, with three straight losses by a combined 38 points. As Beamer bluntly put it, “They’ve kicked our butts, physically, just to be completely frank.”

But this Saturday, the No. 21 Gamecocks (6-3, 4-3 SEC) aim to flip the script as they host No. 23 Missouri (7-2, 3-2 SEC) in Columbia, South Carolina. With both teams clinging to their slim College Football Playoff hopes, the stakes are high in this SEC showdown.

Gamecocks Heating Up at the Right Time

South Carolina is on a roll, having secured three straight decisive wins. The Gamecocks steamrolled past Oklahoma (35-9), Texas A&M (44-20), and Vanderbilt (28-7), showcasing a potent mix of offense and defense during this stretch. These victories have secured bowl eligibility for the third time in Beamer’s tenure, and they’re chasing their first winning SEC record since 2017.

Beamer has praised his team’s resilience, saying: “No one else did, I realize that, but this group had very high expectations for themselves going into 2024. It’s good to see that we’ve been able to accomplish a lot of things already, but there’s still a lot more for us to accomplish.”

The Gamecocks’ offense has been clicking, putting up 982 total yards in their last two games while averaging a scorching 7.28 yards per play. Running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders has been electric, rushing for 270 yards in those two outings. Meanwhile, quarterback LaNorris Sellers has thrown for 482 yards and four touchdowns while adding another 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Missouri Battling Through Injuries

Missouri, on the other hand, is coming off a gritty 30-23 win over Oklahoma, bouncing back from a humbling 34-0 loss at Alabama. The Tigers have been dealing with a slew of injuries, particularly at quarterback. With starter Brady Cook nursing a high-ankle sprain and a wrist injury, backup Drew Pyne stepped in and delivered a solid performance, throwing three touchdowns despite a modest 143 passing yards.

Head coach Eli Drinkwitz remains confident in Pyne’s ability to lead the team if Cook is unable to go. “We have a lot of confidence in Drew, and whoever gives us the best opportunity to win is who we’re going to play,” Drinkwitz said. “We won’t know anything on Brady till later in the week, but we’ll prepare for Drew to be the starter.”

Beamer, who once tried to recruit Pyne out of high school, has high regard for the Tigers’ backup QB: “He’s tough, competitive, athletic, and can make throws. You see him get better with experience as well.”

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Injury Woes Piling Up for the Tigers

Missouri’s offensive struggles are compounded by injuries beyond the quarterback position. Star running back Nate Noel has been limited by a foot injury, managing just 31 yards on 10 carries against Oklahoma. In his absence, Jamal Roberts and Marcus Carroll combined for 26 carries to shoulder the rushing load.

The offensive line has also taken a hit, with starting center Connor Tollison suffering a season-ending knee injury. Right guard Cayden Green has been nursing a leg injury, leaving Missouri to shuffle the lineup. Drake Heismeyer is expected to take over at center, while Mitchell Walters will likely step in at guard.

“There’s a chemistry aspect of offense that’s disrupted when you know you’ve got the center and the quarterback that are going to be new,” Drinkwitz noted. “But I think everybody’s got to do their job, have each other’s backs, and know that there’s going to be some issues that we’ve got to work through and not get too high or too low about.”

Key Matchups to Watch

1. South Carolina’s Offense vs. Missouri’s Defense: The Gamecocks have been on fire, particularly with their ground game led by Rocket Sanders. The Tigers will need to find a way to slow down South Carolina’s dynamic offense to stay competitive.
2. Drew Pyne’s Composure Under Pressure: If Brady Cook is sidelined, all eyes will be on Pyne to lead Missouri. Can he handle the pressure on the road against a fired-up Gamecocks defense?
3. Injured Offensive Line vs. South Carolina’s Pass Rush: Missouri’s patchwork offensive line will face a tough challenge against South Carolina’s aggressive front seven. How well Missouri can protect Pyne (or Cook) could be a deciding factor.

What’s at Stake?

For South Carolina, a victory would not only keep their SEC title hopes alive but also break a three-game losing streak to Missouri. It would be a significant statement win for Beamer as he continues to build the program.

For Missouri, a win would prove that they can overcome adversity, especially with their injury issues, and solidify their standing in the SEC. Both teams are fighting for a potential bowl game and even a long-shot chance at the College Football Playoff.

Prediction: Who Comes Out on Top?

While Missouri has had the upper hand in recent matchups, South Carolina’s current form and home-field advantage might just be the edge they need to turn the tide. Expect a hard-fought battle between two teams with plenty to prove, but the Gamecocks might finally get their revenge and notch a crucial victory.