South Carolina vs Florida 2021 football game kickoff time, odds, stream, TV
The South Carolina football team returns from the bye week to host the Florida Gators for a night game Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s game.
What channel is the South Carolina game on?
Who: Florida Gators (4-4, 2-4 SEC) at South Carolina Gamecocks (4-4, 1-4 SEC)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) in Columbia, SC
TV: SEC Network
On-air announce crew: Taylor Zarzour, play-by-play; Matt Stinchcomb, analyst; Alyssa Lang, sideline
Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (Todd Ellis, play-by-play; Tommy Suggs, analyst; Jamar Nesbit, sideline) … See all the radio affiliates around South Carolina here.
Satellite radio: Sirius 135/XM 191
Series history: Florida carries the series with a 29-9-3 record over South Carolina. Gators head coach Dan Mullen has a 4-2 record against the Gamecocks.
Saturday weather forecast for Columbia, SC
The weather will be cloudy, cool and potentially wet for the Gamecocks’ evening kickoff. The temperature will reach 59 degrees during the day and be in the low 50s at kickoff and upper 40s by game’s end. The chance of precipitation is 50%.
South Carolina vs UF game prediction
ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Florida an 85% chance to win over the Gamecocks.
Point spread for Florida vs USC Gamecocks
South Carolina opened as a 20-point underdog to Florida in the matchup’s steepest spread since 2008, when Tim Tebow headed the Gators’ offense. The line has since dropped to 18 points, but South Carolina remains the only home underdog in SEC play this week.
Week 10 SEC college football betting lines
Odds according to VegasInsider consensus.
- Noon: Missouri at Georgia (-38)
- Noon: Liberty at Ole Miss (-9.5)
- 3:30 p.m.: Auburn at Texas A&M (-4.5)
- 4 p.m.: Mississippi State at Arkansas (-5)
- 7 p.m.: LSU at Alabama (-28.5)
- 7 p.m.: Tennessee at Kentucky — even
- 7:30 p.m.: Florida (-18) at South Carolina
South Carolina football injury, status report
- Quarterback Zeb Noland returned to practice this week after a having minor procedure for a right meniscus tear during the Gamecocks’ open week but his availability for Saturday is uncertain.
- Offensive lineman Dylan Wonnum (back) and safety Jaylin Dickerson (ankle) are out for this week, USC coach Shane Beamer announced Thursday on his radio call-in show.
- Wide receiver Jalen Brooks is not expected to return this week after missing South Carolina’s last two games while tending to a personal matter. Beamer said he’s been in communication with Brooks and does not know of a timetable for his return.
Gamecocks vs Florida Gators: What to watch for
Dan Mullen’s Gators started off the season competitively, playing a close game with Alabama in Week 3 and posting a dominant 38-14 win over SEC East rival Tennessee.
With the exception of a 42-0 victory over ailing Vanderbilt, Florida’s October stretch was not kind. The Gators suffered three tough conference losses to Kentucky, LSU and Georgia and will come to Williams-Brice Stadium under a degree of pressure after underperforming in recent contests.
South Carolina showed offensive regression in its 44-14 loss at Texas A&M, accumulating just 15 yards in three quarters with Zeb Noland at quarterback. Jason Brown came in to save the Gamecocks from finishing with less than 100 yards — and Noland underwent a minor procedure on his right meniscus in the bye week. Brown is expected to get his first career SEC start on Saturday.
Florida has gone with a quarterback tandem of Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson throughout 2021, but both are prone to interceptions. Its offense as a whole has struggled with ball security, totaling 16 turnovers through eight games. The matchup could bode well for South Carolina, which has recovered 17 turnovers, including 11 interceptions.
The Gators are much more statistically sound than the Gamecocks in terms of total offense (483.5 yards per game to 328.1) but the two are evenly matched defensively, with Florida allowing an average of 340.4 yards per game compared with South Carolina’s 346.1.
If the Gamecocks are able to pull off an upset at home, they would be one game closer to bowl eligibility and would only need one win against either Auburn, Missouri or Clemson to reach a postseason berth in Beamer’s first season.
South Carolina players to watch
1. Running back Kevin Harris was largely absent in South Carolina’s last game against Texas A&M, carrying the ball twice and accumulating 0 yards. Harris rushed for 100 yards against Florida last year, and the Gators’ rushing defense is toward the middle of the SEC, ranked No. 8 in the conference allowing 147.4 yards per game. Beamer said Harris was getting back to full health throughout the bye week after tweaking his ankle and looked “really good” in practice.
2. Edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare was the highest-graded pass rusher in the country through the first eight weeks of the season, according to Pro Football Focus, and leads the Gamecocks with 4.5 sacks for a loss of 30 yards.
3. Defensive back Jaylan Foster leads the country with five interceptions this season. This week, Foster was nominated for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy, given to the most outstanding player who began as a walk-on. He’s also ranked fourth in the SEC with 65 tackles.
Three Florida football players to watch
1. Quarterback Emory Jones had started in all of Florida’s contests before Georgia and leads the Gators in both passing yards (1,417) and rushing yards (517) by a long shot. Though he didn’t start, the junior saw action in the loss to Georgia, finishing with 112 yards on 10-of-14 passing and another 22 yards on five carries. Jones hauled in the Gators’ lone touchdown last week against the Bulldogs.
2. Wide receiver Justin Shorter transferred from Penn State in 2020 and has watched his production rise throughout his second season at Florida. Shorter caught six receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the Gators’ shootout loss to LSU and led the Gators in receiving yards against Georgia. He totaled 50 yards on four catches against the Bulldogs.
3. Defensive lineman Zachary Carter has been credited with 6.0 sacks for 35 lost yards and a forced fumble. The senior is one of the Gators’ more consistent defensive threats alongside linebacker Brenton Cox, who’s totaled 6.0 sacks of his own, including five in the Gators’ win over Tennessee.
South Carolina Gamecocks 2021 football schedule
Home games in bold
South Carolina football projected depth chart vs Florida
Any position, whether it’s a starter or a backup, is listed with an —OR— designation.
Offense
QB — Jason Brown (Zeb Noland —OR— Colten Gauthier)
RB — ZaQuandre White —OR— MarShawn Lloyd —OR— Juju McDowell —OR— Kevin Harris
WR — Jalen Brooks —OR— Xavier Legette
WR — Dakereon Joyner (Ahmarean Brown)
WR — Josh Vann (Ger-Cari Caldwell)
LT — Jazston Turnetine —OR— Jakai Moore
LG — Vershon Lee (Jaylen Nichols)
OC — Eric Douglas (Vincent Murphy)
RG — Jovaughn Gwyn (Wyatt Campbell —OR— Hank Manos)
RT — Dylan Wonnum —OR— Tyshawn Wannamaker
TE — Nick Muse (E.J. Jenkins)
TE — Jaheim Bell (Traevon Kenion, Keveon Mullins)
Defense
EDGE — Aaron Sterling (Jordan Burch)
DT — Jabari Ellis (Tonka Hemingway)
DT — Zacch Pickens (Alex Huntley)
EDGE — Kingsley Enagbare (Jordan Strachan)
NICK — David Spaulding (Carlins Platel)
MLB — Damani Staley (Debo Williams)
WLB — Brad Johnson (Mo Kaba —OR— Darryle Ware)
CB — Cam Smith (Dominick Hill)
SS — R.J. Roderick (Jaylin Dickerson, Jahmar Brown)
FS — Jaylan Foster (Tyrese Ross)
CB — Darius Rush (Marcellas Dial)
Specialists
PK — Parker White (Mitch Jeter)
KO — Parker White —OR— Mitch Jeter —OR— Alex Herrera
P — Kai Kroeger (Alex Herrera)
LS — Matthew Bailey (Hunter Rogers)
H — Kai Kroger (Alex Herrera)
KOR — Dakereon Joyner (Juju McDowell)
PR — Josh Vann (Ahmarean Brown)
This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 2:12 PM.
