Las Vegas losing faith in Gamecocks as Texas A&M comes to town

David Purdum of ESPN Chalk joined us this week to talk about a struggling South Carolina team and its game against Texas A&M. The Aggies opened up the week as more than a two-touchdown favorite and the betting line has only grown from there.

The State: What’s going on with the line this week?

Purdum: It opened at 15.5 at the Wynn and it’s already climbed all the way over 17 to 17.5, 17 being the next key number in that scenario. Just not a lot of respect for South Carolina right now, and frankly they haven’t done much to deserve it.

The State: It doesn’t look like the Gamecocks are going to be the favorites in many more games this year does it?

Purdum: I wouldn’t think so, probably would be a favorite against UMass. However, UMass gave Florida a tough time and played Mississippi State pretty tough. Western Carolina, obviously [USC] will be a favorite, maybe that Missouri game at home depending on how Missouri plays, but yeah, maybe two games, three in a max.

The State: One of the big national games is going up in the Upstate with Clemson hosting Louisville. What’s the status of that line?

Purdum: This is interesting. They had this as one of the games of the year in the summer and Clemson was as much as a 9-point favorite. This week when the books went up, some books went up with Clemson minus-3 and then it continued to move and now Louisville is the favorite at a majority of shops, as much as 2-point favorites. That’s a pretty significant early move on the Cardinals. It’s a little surprising to me. I’m a Clemson backer. I think that program is peaking in talent. I bet them at the beginning of the year at 8-to-1 to win the national championship and thought I’d have a hedge opportunity with Florida State, so I’m a little bit worried that they are the underdogs.

The State: So everyone is getting on the Louisville bandwagon?

Purdum: Oh yeah. (Quarterback) Lamar Jackson is an overwhelming Heisman trophy favorite right now. They have looked awfully impressive, but still Clemson, this is one of their better teams.

This story was originally published September 28, 2016 at 1:28 PM.