USC football enters Charlotte game as huge betting favorite. Will they cover?
Last week, South Carolina football found itself on the wrong side of a massive point spread. This week, with a Conference USA opponent in town, the tables have turned.
Despite getting walloped by No. 1 Georgia at home on Saturday, USC is a 22-point favorite for this weekend’s home game against Charlotte, according to VegasInsider’s consensus line.
That’s a 10-point jump from South Carolina’s Week 1 spread against Georgia State (-12.5) and comfortably the most points the team will be favored by this season against an FBS opponent.
Here’s a closer look at betting trends entering Saturday’s game between the Gamecocks (1-2, 0-2 SEC) and the 49ers (1-3, 0-1 C-USA).
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
South Carolina against the spread last week
USC failed to cover for the second straight SEC game, and this time it wasn’t particularly close. After putting up a fight against Arkansas, South Carolina got routed 48-7 by No. 1 Georgia at home.
The Bulldogs led 24-0 at halftime and 45-0 after three quarters, with their 41-point final margin of victory easily covering a 25.5-point spread.
South Carolina’s now 1-2 against the spread this season and 1-1 ATS at home.
Charlotte against the spread last week
Will Healy’s squad scored one of college football’s top underdog wins in upsetting Georgia State 42-41 on the road.
The 49ers were a 20-point underdog after a tepid stretch that saw them lose their first three games (including one at home to FCS William & Mary), but veteran quarterback Chris Reynolds willed Charlotte to victory with his sixth career game-winning drive.
Charlotte’s now 1-3 against the spread this season and 1-1 ATS on the road.
South Carolina vs Charlotte betting trends
This line, unsurprisingly, hasn’t seen much movement. South Carolina opened as a 23-point favorite against Charlotte on Sunday and remains a 22-point favorite as of Wednesday.
Both programs’ recent histories indicate a USC victory. South Carolina has won 11 straight games against C-USA teams, 34 of its last 40 home games against non-conference teams and 37 of its last 49 overall non-conference games (seven of 12 losses came against Clemson).
Charlotte is also 1-7 all time against Power Five teams.
Though Saturday’s expected result doesn’t seem in doubt, betting trends have been interesting. As of Tuesday, 56% of VegasInsider bettors were choosing South Carolina to cover the 22-point spread. But the Gamecocks had earned just 13% of all money on those ATS bets.
Charlotte, meanwhile, had netted 87% of the money on bets against the spread, meaning the 44% of bettors who think the 49ers will stay within 22 points are putting some cash on the line.
SEC Week 4 odds
Consensus lines via VegasInsider.com
Kent State at No. 1 Georgia (-44.5)
Missouri at Auburn (-7)
Bowling Green at Mississippi State (-30)
No. 20 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee (-10.5)
Tulsa at No. 16 Ole Miss (-21)
Northern Illinois at No. 8 Kentucky (-25)
No. 10 Arkansas at No. 23 Texas A&M (-2.5)
Vanderbilt at No. 2 Alabama (-40.5)
New Mexico at LSU (-31)
Charlotte at South Carolina (-22)
