South Carolina opens underdog in bowl

The most the South Carolina football team has been favored by against a Power 5 opponent in 2017 was seven points against Vanderbilt.

That was until the opening line for the Outback Bowl against Michigan.

South Carolina was shown to be as a 9 1/2-point favorite against the Wolverines. That appears to have been a technical error, as Las Vegas Insider flipped the line in favor of Michigan.

The Gamecocks are 8-4, same as the Wolverines. Michigan lost to four teams that were 9-3 or better, including three in New Year’s Six bowls (Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin).

The teams have a common opponent, Florida, which they both beat. Michigan is also down a pair of quarterbacks who started this season.

USC is 7-4-1 against the spread in 2017. Michigan is 5-6-1.

This story was originally published December 3, 2017 at 8:14 PM with the headline "South Carolina opens underdog in bowl."