By james art 
After Week 1, it looked like the Texas A&M Aggies and South Carolina Gamecocks were in for a tough season. But each team quickly recovered and is now finding success.
The Aggies are the favorites, but Williams-Brice Stadium is never an easy place. After narrow losses to LSU and Alabama, the Gamecocks are hungry to beat a ranked opponent. With a tight line, does South Carolina have what it takes to secure the win? Here’s our take on the Texas A&M vs. South Carolina game.
Texas A&M vs. South Carolina Betting Review
All Texas A&M vs. South Carolina odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Saturday, November 2, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM spread
Texas A&M -11 - Distribution
Texas A&M -3 - Money line
Texas A&M -142, South Carolina +120 - Over/Under
44 points - Time to play
Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Williams-Brice Stadium | Columbia, South Carolina - Forecast weather in Kik
68 degrees, partly cloudy, wind 7 mph - How to watch
ABC
Even though the Aggies were undefeated since Week 2 and coming off a huge win over LSU, Vegas started this game with a meager four-point spread. Punters were jumping on it, but maybe not in the way you’d think. It has already moved down 2.5 points, including a half-point move in the last hour before this writing.
MORE: Simulate the college football season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The Aggies are currently 2.5 point road favorites. A total of 44.5 points is indicative of the strength of any defense, and the combination of a low total and tight spread suggests a highly contested, grind-it-out game. Vegas predicts a final score close to 24-21 in favor of the Aggies.
Texas A&M Win Probability
CFN’s FPM is much higher on the Aggies in this one than the sportsbook. The Aggies are heavy favorites, according to the metric, with an implied spread of over 11 points and an 80.2% probability of winning.
The mark makes Texas A&M heavy favorites in three of the Final Four before a draw against rival Texas to end the year.
- in South Carolina: 80.2%
- vs. New Mexico State: 99.9%
- in Auburn: 88.1%
- vs. Texas: 50.2%
South Carolina’s odds of winning
Conversely, CFN’s FPM isn’t as high in South Carolina as many others, giving the Gamecocks just a 19.8% chance to win and making them underdogs in four of their last five games.
Needing two wins for a bowl berth, FPM figures South Carolina will need to steal a win late in the season to reach the postseason.
- vs. Texas A&M: 19.8%
- at Vanderbilt: 35.4%
- vs. Missouri: 47.2%
- against Wofford: 98.8%
- at Clemson: 17.4%
Texas A&M vs. South Carolina Prediction
As a South Carolina grad, I’ve never felt better about the Gamecocks’ season — 7-0 on USC’s straight picks and 6-1 against the spread.
This game feels like a real turning point for South Carolina. Mike Elko’s teams have a knack for hitting their stride as the season progresses, as we saw against LSU last week when he completely outplayed Brian Kelly in the second half.
A major landmark correction? Traded starting QB Conner Weigman in favor of dual-threat sophomore Marcel Reed, who stepped up earlier this season when Weigman was sidelined.
With Texas A&M down 17-7 in the third quarter, Reed came in and immediately made a splash, scoring on his first touch and leading the Aggies to a stunning 31-6 second-half dominance over LSU.
While it’s unclear if this change is permanent, one thing is certain: South Carolina’s defensive line is the toughest the Aggies have faced all season. I’d even say the Gamecocks boast the best pass rush in the country.
Just two weeks ago, South Carolina racked up nine sacks from nine different players against Oklahoma. But they face another test with one of their first really tough opponents. The last time the Gamecocks faced a team committed to the ground game, they lost 27-3 to Ole Miss – also at home and fresh off a bye.
Against Ole Miss, Shane Beamer played his usual aggressive, underdog style. But honestly, I think he realizes that he doesn’t need to approach every game that way with this team. They can face quality opponents and play straight.
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That’s exactly what he did against Oklahoma, relying on a dominant defense and managing the clock in the second half, knowing the Sooners didn’t have a shot unless the Gamecocks gave it to them.
Now the Aggies present a tougher challenge, and I have some doubts about South Carolina’s consistency against Texas A&M’s front seven. Still, the Gamecocks held their own against top teams, slipping up only when lapses and offensive mistakes occurred.
Personally, I’d start Reed at QB; Weigman’s lack of mobility makes him a target for South Carolina’s pass rush. But if the Gamecocks’ defensive line and linebackers stay disciplined in their passing, they can force the Aggies into passing situations where this defense thrives.
The key stat from the Oklahoma game? Zero turnovers for USC.
If they replicate that here, Texas A&M will struggle to run the length against this elite Gamecocks front.
I’m picking the Gamecocks for a classic Beamer upset: a home win with an unexpectedly strong offensive performance.
Forecast: South Carolina 28, Texas A&M 21
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