2019 South Carolina Gamecocks College Football Odds and Expert Betting Picks

2018 Record: 7-6

2019 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 5.5

2019 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'

It is tough to find a sleeper in the SEC. All of the programs in this league are massively overrated - even the good ones - and they all enter each season with inflated expectations.

However, if you are looking for an underrated squad that could wreak some havoc for the top teams in the conference, I would look no further than the Gamecocks.

South Carolina beat its season win total last season despite one of the toughest schedules in the nation. They went 3-2 in games decided by four points or less, and five of their six losses came against teams that finished in the Top 16 in the country. The fact that nearly half of their games came down to the final seconds, against that schedule, shows just how competitive this group of 'Cocks is.

If South Carolina is going to make a move out of the SEC's bloated middle class, they will need to spring at least the occasional upset against a top-tier opponent. The Gamecocks are 0-10 in their last 10 games against ranked teams.

I think that there are reasons to think that this year's group can punch through.

It starts with quarterback Jake Bentley. He is the rare fourth-year starter in this league, and I think that he has the potential to be one of the top two or three signal-callers in the conference. Bentley guided an offense that averaged more than 30 points per game for the first time since Steve Spurrier left, and they could be even better this season.

USC will have to replace leading receiver Deebo Samuel, who was a game-breaker. But other than Samuel, nearly everyone of consequence on offense is back. They have their top two rushers, four of their top five receivers, and three starting offensive linemen back this season. They do have two redshirt freshmen penciled in to start on the line, though, and that could be a problem. But the skill positions are secure.

Head coach Will Muschamp is a defensive guy. And he has seven returning starters on that side of the ball. His defense had a steep drop-off from 2017 to 2018, allowing nearly a touchdown more per game. But they have a lot of good young talent, and I think Muschamp will mold this group into a unit able to compete with teams at the top of the SEC.

On the whole, South Carolina has 14 total returning starters, eight three-year starters, and 10 senior starters all ready to go this year. That makes them one of the most experienced rosters in the SEC.

The problem, though, is the schedule.

South Carolina has dates with Top 3 opponents Alabama, Clemson and Georgia, as well as rough SEC road trips at Missouri, at Tennessee and at Texas A&M. That right there means the Gamecocks have one of the most difficult slates in the country.

Here is the good news, though: South Carolina could lose all six of those games and still beat this season win total. The majority of their remaining games are at home. And I don't think that USC is going to get blanked by those six games. I can see them pulling at least two upsets, and I like the Gamecocks to play a major role in the SEC East.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past nine years, earning nearly $40,000 in total football profit (average profit: +$4,400). He has also posted 7 of 9 winning seasons (including three straight winning years) and produced an amazing 50 of 76 winning football months over the past 12 years. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 1,000 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons. Robert is looking for a fourth straight winning football year and wants more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 3-FOR-1 FOOTBALL SPECIALS!

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