Missouri (3-0 straight up, 3-0 against the spread) will take on South Carolina at Faurot Field on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. As of Friday afternoon, most books had the Tigers installed as 9.5-point home favorites with a total of 48.5.
The Gamecocks were +270 on the money line at most spots. For first-half bets, Mizzou was listed as a six-point ‘chalk.’ The Tigers were -2.5 (at a -122 price) in the first quarter at FanDuel, but the majority of shops had them at -3.5 with the juice at even money (+100).
As loyal readers know, we were all over Missouri to go ‘over’ its Team Total of 37.5 points last week vs. Louisiana when we said it was the best bet on the board. That resulted in a rocking-chair winner before halftime when the Tigers took a 38-10 lead into the break. From there, they coasted to a 52-10 win over the Ragin’ Cajuns.
RB Ahmad Hardy led the way with 250 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. QB Beau Pribula had two TD passes and a rushing TD, while RB Marquise Davis had 113 rushing yards and one TD on 20 totes. WR Kevin Coleman had eight receptions for 84 yards.
Missouri has produced 52, 42 and 61 points in its three games to rank eighth nationally in scoring with a 51.7 points-per-game average. Mizzou is ranked fourth in the country in total yards, averaging 587.0 YPG.
Pribula has completed 76.4 percent of his passes for 791 yards with a 7/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also has three rushing TDs. Hardy is second in the nation in rushing yards with 462, and he has five TDs and an 8.1 yards-per-carry average.
As for South Carolina (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS), it has been a major struggle offensively. The Gamecocks have scored only five offensive TDs in three contests. They lost a 31-7 decision vs. Vanderbilt last week and saw star QB LaNorris Sellers knocked out of the game with a concussion in the second quarter.
On the bright side, Sellers was able to practice Thursday and was upgraded from ‘questionable’ to ‘probable’ on last night’s SEC Availability Report.
I don’t think it’s going to matter, though.
PREDICTIONS: I’m betting Missouri -5.5 (Circa) in the first half for 1.5 units and Mizzou -9.5 (for the game) for one unit. Also, let’s go with the Tigers’ Team Total to go ‘over’ 28.5 points for two units (-118 price at FanDuel, so risking 2.36 units) and Mizzou -2.5 in the first quarter for one unit (-122 price at FanDuel, so risking 1.22 units). And finally, let’s bet 0.5 units on Hardy to go ‘over’ 90.5 rushing yards (-114 price at FanDuel).
For more of my analysis on South Carolina at Missouri with Jay Greeson, the long-time columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, check out our podcast on the YouTube channel for Southeastern 16.
If you’re interested in other gambling picks of mine, you can always hit me up on Twitter at @vegasbedwards or e-mail me at briane.edwards11@gmail.com.
As always, bet responsibly, best of luck with your wagers and let’s win some greenbacks!