Looking for an upset Saturday? It’s happened 5 times in last 25 Carolina-Clemson games
An old cliche says, “Throw the records right out the window” for a rivalry game.
Historically, the annual football meeting between South Carolina and Clemson has given some credence to the adage, though Clemson claimed a stretch of six consecutive wins before the rivalry wasn’t played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the last 25 meetings, there have been five games in which the betting underdog was victorious. Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks are hoping to add to that Saturday as 11.5-point underdogs in the 2021 version of the game.
Here’s a look back at those five most recent upsets in the Palmetto Bowl.
1996: South Carolina scores upset at No. 22 Clemson
Betting line: Clemson by 7
Result: South Carolina won 34-31
Hero of the game: South Carolina RB Duce Staley
Final records: South Carolina 6-5; Clemson 7-5
Senior running back Duce Staley, father of current Gamecock linebacker Damani Staley, capped off his South Carolina career rushing for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in his last outing as a Gamecock on Nov. 23, 1996. South Carolina had to hold on for the win over the No. 22 Tigers, watching a 34-17 lead shrink to the 34-31 result.
The Gamecocks’ victory in Death Valley resulted in the final winning season for Brad Scott as Gamecocks head coach. After his firing in 1998, Scott moved to the in-state rival, where he coached under both Tommy Bowden and Dabo Swinney from 1999-2011 before serving as assistant athletic director from 2011-19.
2003: Clemson saves Tommy Bowden’s job
Betting line: South Carolina by 1
Result: Clemson won 63-17
Hero of the game: Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst
Final records: Clemson 9-4; South Carolina 5-7
Clemson senior Charlie Whitehurst became the first quarterback to go 4-0 in the rivalry when the Tigers routed Lou Holtz’s Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on Nov. 22, 2003. South Carolina was favored by 1 point amid a three-game losing streak, seeking redemption in the matchup and with Clemson coach Tommy Bowden on the hot seat.
Whitehurst tied a program-record four touchdown passes and led the 46-point victory, which helped Bowden buy more time at Clemson.
2006: Mike Davis touchdowns lead to road upset
Betting line: Clemson by 5.5
Result: South Carolina won 31-28
Hero of the game: South Carolina running back Mike Davis (Columbia High)
Final Records: South Carolina 8-5; Clemson 8-5
South Carolina entered a matchup with No. 24 Clemson on a five-game losing streak to ranked opponents and having dropped the last four meetings with the Tigers.
Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks found themselves down by two scores in the third quarter, but a pair of touchdown runs from Mike Davis and a fourth-quarter field goal by Ryan Succop sealed an upset victory in Death Valley that Spurrier dedicated to USC fans.
2009: South Carolina’s golden era begins
Betting line: Clemson by 3
Result: South Carolina won 34-17
Heroes of the game: South Carolina’s defense
Final records: South Carolina 7-6; Clemson 9-5
South Carolina’s five-year stretch of dominance over Clemson began with a home upset over a No. 15 Clemson in Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks’ defense stifled Tigers’ star running back C.J. Spiller, allowing him just 18 yards on nine carries, and came up with pivotal turnovers.
Linebacker DeVonte Holloman took an early interception 54 yards, leading to a first-quarter USC lead that the Gamecocks never surrendered.
2012: Dylan Thompson leads Gamecocks win
Betting line: Clemson by 6.5
Result: South Carolina won 27-17
Hero of the game: South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson
Final records: South Carolina 11-2; Clemson 11-2
No. 13 South Carolina marched into Death Valley without a healthy Connor Shaw, but backup quarterback Dylan Thompson was able to handle No. 12 Clemson to earn the Gamecocks’ fourth consecutive win over the Tigers.
Thompson completed 23 of his 41 pass attempts for 310 yards and three touchdowns. On the defensive side, Gamecock great Jadeveon Clowney dominated Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd and totaled 4.5 sacks on the night in what was a complete victory for USC at Clemson — and the last time an underdog won in the rivalry game series.
South Carolina vs. Clemson betting line history
According to OddsShark.com
- 1995: Clemson by 4 (Clemson won 38-17)
- 1996: Clemson by 7 (USC won 34-31)
- 1997: Clemson by 1 (Clemson won 47-21)
- 1998: Clemson by 5 (Clemson won 28-19)
- 1999: Clemson by 14.5 (CLemson won 31-21)
- 2000: Clemson by 7 (Clemson won 16-14)
- 2001: USC by 5.5 (USC won 20-15)
- 2002: Clemson by 3.5 (Clemson won 27-20)
- 2003: South Carolina by 1 (Clemson won 63-17)
- 2004: Clemson by 3 (Clemson won 29-7)
- 2005: Clemson by 3.5 (Clemson won 13-9)
- 2006: Clemson by 5.5 (USC won 31-28)
- 2007: Clemson by 3 (Clemson won 23-21)
- 2008: Clemson by 1 (Clemson won 31-14)
- 2009: Clemson by 3 (USC won 34-17)
- 2010: USC by 3 (USC won 29-7)
- 2011: USC by 3.5 (USC won 34-13)
- 2012: Clemson by 6.5 (USC won 27-17)
- 2013: USC by 2.5 (USC won 31-17)
- 2014: Clemson by 4.5 (Clemson won 35-17)
- 2015: Clemson by 20.5 (Clemson won 37-32)
- 2016: Clemson by 26 (Clemson won 56-7)
- 2017: Clemson by 13.5 (Clemson won 34-10)
- 2018: Clemson by 26 (Clemson won 56-35)
- 2019: Clemson by 27.5 (Clemson won 38-3)
- 2020: Clemson by 11.5
