Coastal Carolina was on a roll until just a week ago.
The Chanticleers had won four straight games with all but one of those being decided by double digits. That was after CCU started the season 2-3 with lopsided losses to Virginia, East Carolina, and Old Dominion.
The Chanticleers are 6-4 with a 5-2 record in Sun Belt play. They don’t have much to add to their resume at this point, though. They’ve already earned bowl-eligibility and are out of conference title contention, as James Madison has already won the Sun Belt East.
Well, they could add a Power Four win to their resume.
CCU is going on the road to play South Carolina this week. The Gamecocks are 3-7 this season and are on a five-game losing skid.
Coastal Carolina vs. South Carolina Betting Odds
South Carolina is a -24 college football betting odds favorite against Coastal Carolina, with the Over/Under being 49.5 as of this writing. The moneyline for Coastal Carolina is +1300, while it’s -3000 for South Carolina.
Coastal Carolina vs. South Carolina On TV
The matchup between Coastal Carolina and South Carolina will be televised on the SEC Network.
The game will kick off at 4:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 22. The contest is taking place at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
Coastal Carolina vs. South Carolina Prediction
I predict South Carolina will win but CCU will cover the 24-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 49.5 total points.
I might have picked Coastal Carolina to win if I knew quarterback Samari Collier was healthy for this game. But the Chanticleers quarterback suffered an injury last week against Georgia Southern, and it appears he won’t be back for this game.
But I still expect Coastal Carolina will make this a close contest.
On offense, CCU is top five in the Sun Belt in rushing offense with 194 yards per game on the ground. And while part of that is because of Collier, the Chanticleers have good enough running backs to help them sustain drives. That includes Ja’Vin Simpkins, who has rushed for 536 yards and two touchdowns on a 5.3 yards-per-carry average.
And on defense, CCU is top five in the Sun Belt in pass defense efficiency. I think that secondary will help the Chanticleers limit quarterback LaNorris Sellers and the South Carolina passing attack.
I don’t expect CCU to win. But I do think the Chanticleers have what it takes to make South Carolina earn a two-touchdown win.
