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Tennessee vs South Carolina Prediction, Picks & SEC Odds (Oct. 24)

Eric Rosales

By Eric Rosales in College Football

Published:


DeSean Bishop TD celebration
Tennessee wide receiver Ben Petermann (35) and running back DeSean Bishop (18) celebrate after Bishop scored a touchdown against Alabama in a college football game on Oct. 17, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • No. 11 Tennessee visits Williams-Brice Stadium for a pivotal SEC showdown Saturday afternoon
  • Two physical defenses and contrasting quarterback profiles shape this matchup
  • Read below for my Tennessee vs South Carolina prediction, picks and SEC odds

The No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers hit the road to face the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, October 24. Kickoff is set for 3:30pm ET on ESPN at Williams-Brice Stadium. Tennessee carries a 6-1 record and a 3-1 mark in conference play, while South Carolina sits at 3-3 and needs a win to climb from 1-3 in the SEC.

Tennessee beat Alabama 26-10 behind a defense that allowed 201 yards and forced four turnovers. South Carolina returns from a bye after beating Florida 38-19 on October 10. The Gamecocks counter with dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers and one of the SEC’s stingiest run defenses.

The home side sits as a short favorite in the latest college football odds, with both teams built to lean on the ground game. Let’s dig into my Tennessee vs South Carolina prediction and the most wagerable angles on the board.

Tennessee vs South Carolina Prediction

Tennessee vs South Carolina Pick #1: South Carolina Moneyline

  • Pick: South Carolina Moneyline (-130 at BetMGM)

South Carolina matches up incredibly well in the trenches in this Tennessee vs South Carolina showdown. The Gamecocks boast the third-best rushing defense in the SEC, allowing just 103.7 yards per game. That profile directly challenges a Tennessee offense that leans heavily on its ground and pound attack.

Forcing quarterback George MacIntyre into obvious passing situations is the key to an outright win. MacIntyre has started Tennessee’s last two wins and is expected to make his next start after going 21-for-31 for 197 yards against Alabama. A stout run defense will thoroughly test his pocket presence.

At -130, South Carolina needs to win roughly 56.5% of the time to break even. With home field, a top-three SEC run defense and a quarterback who can create with his legs, I like the Gamecocks to clear that bar.

Tennessee vs South Carolina Pick #2: Under 50.5 Points

  • Pick: Under 50.5 Points (-108 at BetMGM)

Both teams want to establish the run and bleed the clock in this Tennessee vs South Carolina matchup. Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop handled 32 carries for 159 yards and two scores against Alabama. Expect another heavy dose of Bishop to protect the football and sustain drives.

Furthermore, the visitors’ defense is ridiculous. Tennessee allows a meager 14.7 points per game and has already racked up 30 sacks and 58 tackles for loss. Sustaining long scoring marches against this aggressive scheme will be difficult, and every extended drive chews up large portions of the clock.

Sellers remains the wild card. He has thrown for 1,338 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding 411 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. His legs can extend drives, but a pass rush this disruptive should limit the explosive plays an Over would need.

Tennessee vs South Carolina Team Stats Comparison

The season statistics reveal a fascinating clash of offensive execution against defensive havoc in Tennessee vs South Carolina. The per-game averages below show exactly why a methodical, lower-scoring affair is a realistic outcome.

StatisticTennesseeSouth Carolina
Scoring Offense33.4 PPG37.7 PPG
Scoring Defense14.7 PPG25.5 PPG
Rushing Offense217.1 YPG232.3 YPG
Rushing Defense121.3 YPG103.7 YPG
Passing Offense188.0 YPG242.3 YPG
Sacks3016

Per-game figures reflect seven games for Tennessee and six games for South Carolina.

The most prominent mismatch centers on the South Carolina passing game against the Tennessee pass rush. The Gamecocks average 242.3 passing yards per game, but the Vols have nearly double their sack total. The home offensive line must secure the edge to prevent drive-killing losses and stay ahead of the chains.

Tennessee vs South Carolina SEC Odds

MarketTennesseeSouth Carolina
Spread+2 (-108)-2 (-114)
Moneyline+110-130
TotalOver 50.5 (-111)Under 50.5 (-108)

Odds verified at BetMGM on October 23.

South Carolina is a short home favorite in the Tennessee vs South Carolina odds, laying two points at -114. The -130 moneyline carries a break-even rate of about 56.5%. Stripping out the vig, the market prices the Gamecocks near 54.3% and Tennessee near 45.7%, though those figures reflect the market rather than true win probability.

A $20 bet on the South Carolina moneyline would return $15.38 in profit. Line shopping matters on a number this tight, so compare prices across the top College Football betting apps before locking in. Tune into ESPN at 3:30 PM ET to see how this SEC battle unfolds.

Claim the BetMGM promo code before kickoff to get in on this SEC matchup.

Eric Rosales
Eric Rosales

Sports Writer & Editor

Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.

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