South Carolina vs. Kentucky has turned into a budding rivalry since Shane Beamer took the helm for the Gamecocks in 2021. Kentucky won that first matchup, but the Gamecocks take a two-game series winning streak into Lexington.
Can the Gamecocks pull off the upset this week? Here are the announcers, numbers, and everything you need to know about South Carolina vs. Kentucky.
South Carolina vs. Kentucky Announcers, Broadcast Details, and More
- Start time: 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
- Channel: ABC
- Radio Stations: Gamecock Radio Network, SiriusXM
- Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, and Molly McGrath (sideline reporter)
- Betting lines: Kentucky -8.5
- Over/Under: 42 points
- Moneyline: Kentucky -305 / South Carolina +245
- Location: Kroger Field, Lexington, Ken.
South Carolina vs. Kentucky Game Preview
On the surface, these teams don’t look overly similar, but there are a lot of things South Carolina and Kentucky have in common.
Both teams had high hopes for last season but struggled at times, even with veteran quarterbacks on the roster. Now, they both turn the keys over to unproven but talented youngsters.
Brock Vandagriff, the former five-star recruit from Georgia, had solid numbers last week for the Wildcats but got lucky when he put the ball into danger a few times.
LaNorris Sellers, despite thriving in limited reps last season for the Gamecocks, really struggled as South Carolina took advantage of four Old Dominion turnovers to eke out a win.
Both quarterbacks have some mobility and rely on their legs to open up the passing game. Both offenses are in flux, while the defenses should be excellent this season.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Kentucky opened as a 6.5-point favorite before the season, and that number ballooned to 10.5 earlier in the week after South Carolina’s struggles. However, it’s dropped since then.
A total of just 42 points is indicative of the type of game these teams have played in the past few years, as no game has eclipsed the 40-point total since 2020.
In fact, the losing team has failed to reach 20 points in each of the last eight matchups, suggesting this will be a hard-fought, low-scoring affair.
South Carolina will need to get its passing game going, as the Wildcats have one of the best run defenses in the SEC. That means Sellers and the Gamecock receivers will need to play to their highest potential to have a chance in this one.
This game has come down to turnovers in recent years. The Gamecocks and Wildcats each had just one turnover on offense in Week 1, but the defenses had a combined six takeaways last week. Both offensive lines have some questions, and both defensive lines have the horses to ask them.
Expect a low-scoring rock fight that could turn on a timely takeaway, but don’t be surprised if an explosive play or two from these offenses winds up being the difference.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top 10 returning players, the 2024 college football season schedule, and much more!