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Alabama football vs South Carolina: Score prediction, scouting report, betting odds
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama football vs South Carolina: Score prediction, scouting report, betting odds
How is Alabama football handling South Carolina prep after an upset loss to Vanderbilt ? According to Crimson Tide running backs coach Robert Gillespie, it's the exact same way as if Alabama had beaten the Commodores.
"I don't think you're going to do your job any differently than you did it yesterday if you have a bad day, right?" Gillespie said. "I mean, if you do, that means you're not committed every day to the same process. And it's still a process."
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That "process" continues Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium as No. 7 Alabama hosts South Carolina at 11 a.m. on ABC. It's the Crimson Tide 's first meeting with the Gamecocks since 2019, and the pair's first meeting in Tuscaloosa since 2009.
Here's our scouting report of the Gamecocks and how they stack up with the Crimson Tide along with an Alabama-South Carolina score prediction.
South Carolina football players to know
Aug 31, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks edge Dylan Stewart (6) celebrates after a sack against the Old Dominion Monarchs in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
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DE Dylan Stewart: South Carolina has a star freshman at defensive end. Through Stewart's first five games with the Gamecocks, he has six tackles for loss – three of which came in South Carolina's recent loss to Ole Miss – and 3.5 sacks. He leads the conference with two forced fumbles. With Stewart traditionally lining up on the left side, Elijah Pritchett could be in for a tall task protecting Jalen Milroe Saturday.
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QB LaNorris Sellers : The redshirt freshman quarterback is at the center of South Carolina's offense. Sellers has not had immense success for the Gamecocks in 2024. But his dual-threat ability – one Alabama's defense has struggled with as of late – will keep the Crimson Tide on notice.
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CB O'Donnell Fortune: South Carolina has one of the SEC's better pass defenses, limiting quarterbacks to a conference-best 53.9% completion rate and allowing 185.6 passing yards per game. Fortune has been the most-targeted corner, seeing more than five targets per game. According to Pro Football Focus, 63% of Fortune's targets have turned into receptions, but opposing receivers have scored one touchdown against him.
Alabama vs. South Carolina football history
Alabama has won 11 of 15 meetings against South Carolina dating back to the first bout Oct. 9, 1937. The Gamecocks and the Crimson Tide have split the last six meetings, but Alabama has won three of its last four against South Carolina.
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How Alabama-South Carolina stack up on offense
Oct 5, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) scrambles against the Mississippi Rebels in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Third down conversion percentage
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Alabama:46,6% (No. 32 nationally)
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South Carolina:30% (No. 121)
Passing offense
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Alabama:274 passing yards per game (No. 30)
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South Carolina:176 passing yards per game (No. 110 - tied)
Red zone offense
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Alabama:85% (No. 71 - tied)
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South Carolina:83.3% (No. 78 - tied)
Rushing offense
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Alabama:194.2 rushing yards per game (No. 35)
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South Carolina:184 rushing yards per game (No. 43)
Sacks allowed
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Alabama:1.6 sacks per game (No. 57 - tied)
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South Carolina:4.4 sacks per game (No. 133)
Scoring offense
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Alabama:44.6 points per game (No. 8)
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South Carolina:28 points per game (No. 74 - tied)
How Alabama-South Carolina stack up on defense
Third down defense
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Alabama:28% (No. 9)
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South Carolina:33.8% (No. 37)
Passing yards allowed
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Alabama:207.6 passing yards per game (No. 61 - tied)
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South Carolina:185.6 passing yards per game (No. 34)
Red zone defense
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Alabama:81.2% (No. 51 - tied)
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South Carolina:80% (No. 45 - tied)
Rushing defense
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Alabama:128.6 rushing yards per game (No. 54)
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South Carolina:111.2 rushing yards per game (No. 32)
Sacks
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Alabama:2 sacks per game (No. 59 - tied)
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South Carolina:3 sacks per game (No. 14 - tied)
Scoring defense
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Alabama:20 points per game (No. 41)
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South Carolina:19 points per game (No. 32 - tied)
Alabama vs South Carolina spread
Note: Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Oct. 9
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Spread:Alabama -21.5
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O/U:50.5 points
Alabama vs South Carolina score prediction
No. 7 Alabama 38, South Carolina 17: One week after Vanderbilt gave Alabama a rude awakening, the Crimson Tide should settle back into normalcy at home. Jalen Milroe could be under a bit more pressure than he's used to when facing one of the better pass rushes he's seen all season. But as the Crimson Tide faces an offense that has struggled mightily, with a line that has allowed the most sacks in FBS, this should be enough of a get-right game defensively for Alabama to win comfortably.
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Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football vs South Carolina: Score prediction, scouting report
