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Posted at 10:30 AM EST.

SOUTH CAROLINA +170 over Kentucky 

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

Streaming: ESPN2

7:00 PM EST. We frequently discuss the dangers in playing results and ignoring ingredients. Backing Kentucky here would be falling prey to such a scenario. The Wildcats come into this contest undefeated on the year while audiences bore witness to the Gamecocks getting smacked around in prime-time last week at the hands of the #2 Georgia Bulldogs.

In the buildup to this game, you will hear a lot of things that hard-sell the stock of the Wildcats. For example, UK is 7-1 against the number in the last eight meetings or that the Wildcats have won six of the previous seven contests, and they are riding a five game winning-streak which dates back to last season. That’s really nice but we’ll once again turn to our old friend, Strength of Schedule. In that regard, we have to consider who UK has faced this season, which consists of UL-Monroe, Mizzou, and Chattanooga (A FCS side). Against the Tigers and Mocs most recently, the Wildcats could have lost those contests as quickly as they won them. Kentucky blew a 14-point lead at Missouri and snuck away 35-28; Against Chattanooga, the Mocs took a lead into the fourth quarter but ultimately the Wildcats would win 28-23. Against UL-Monroe to start the season, Kentucky trailed early in that game to a team that did not win a game in 2020. The Wildcats performance portfolio is not exactly telling of a world-beating side that deserves to be road chalk. 

South Carolina meanwhile looks to be making progress under new Head Coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks smoked Eastern Illinois in their opener by a score of 46-0 and they won 20-17 on the road against ECU; a team that is fresh off a win against Conference USA stalwart Marshall. Against powerhouse Georgia, the Gamecocks were put away but they had moments where they showed their potential, as they managed to manufacture a few big plays through the air and even score a touchdown against a Bulldog defense that some say may be historic by season’s end. We have yet to see the true potential of South Carolina and given the stage, spot, and opponent, all things line up for the Gamecocks to provide us with some further positive signs. 

More than one mediocre team in the SEC might go 8-4 but that won't make them good teams. Kentucky, sitting at 3-0 and alone in second place of the SEC East, is one such candidate. The Wildcats are also a candidate to lose six straight starting and will join the line of schools pondering a coaching change.

Indeed Mark Stoops' ‘Cats are 3-0 but the same endless parade of self-inflicted errors, fundamental breakdowns and game management gaffes is still on constant display. Stoops has raised money, recruited top talent and gotten Big Blue Nation excited, but he has yet to deliver anything worthwhile. The Kentucky renaissance just isn't happening, and while 2018 was a nice year, that "breakthrough" was basically the ceiling. South Carolina outright it is.

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