First look at South Carolina vs. No. 4 Alabama: Betting odds, TV details, more
This Saturday in Williams-Brice Stadium, on national television, two teams in very different places will meet for an SEC showdown.
South Carolina is a team that appears snake-bitten, and is desperate to turn around a season that has fallen well short of most’s expectations. USC hosts an Alabama team that is — and has been — playing its best football with no signs of slowing down.
Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s game:
How to watch South Carolina vs. No. 4 Alabama
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium (Columbia)
TV/stream: ABC
Series history: South Carolina is 4-12 against Alabama since the first matchup in 1937. Alabama holds a two-game winning streak against the Gamecocks with a 47-23 win in 2019 and a 27-25 win last season. This will be the first time since 2009-10 that USC and Alabama have played in consecutive seasons.
Betting odds
USC is a 13.5-point underdog against Alabama, according to the VegasInsider consensus line that factors in multiple sportsbooks. The line opened at 7.5 points in favor of Alabama and quickly swelled to almost two touchdowns. The over/under is 46.5 points.
About South Carolina
South Carolina hoped the firing of offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley would help right the ship before its matchup against No. 14 Oklahoma. The Gamecocks limited penalty problems but otherwise looked as bad, or worse, in a 26-7 loss to the Sooners. USC couldn’t get much of anything going on offense, finishing with 226 total yards (with almost 90 yards coming in garbage time), and allowed the Oklahoma offense to work down the field with ease. USC is 3-4 on the year (1-4 in the SEC) and is on the outside looking in at bowl eligibility.
About Alabama
After falling to Florida State in its season opener, No. 4 Alabama has turned around and looked like a team to be reckoned with. The second rendition of coach Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide won five-straight games, including three straight against ranked opponents, entering its rivalry matchup against No. 11 Tennessee at home. The Tide kept rolling against Tennessee on the way to a 37-20 victory. Alabama is now 6-1 and undefeated in SEC play.
Players to watch: Gamecocks and Crimson Tide
South Carolina
Nyck Harbor, WR: Harbor has had a slow 2025 season after being projected as USC’s top dog at receiver. He caught his second touchdown of the year against Oklahoma. He’ll look to keep momentum going with his production against Alabama as he continues to hunt his first 100-yard performance of the season.
Dylan Stewart, edge rusher: He’s a player to watch is because of his health. Stewart went out against Oklahoma with an apparent hip injury in the first quarter and went to the locker room before returning to action. He was hurt again in the first half and didn’t return.
Alabama
Ty Simpson, QB: Alabama’s redshirt junior quarterback had been biding his time, waiting for his chance to take over as the Crimson Tide’s signal-caller. He got his chance this year and is taking advantage of it. Simpson’s thrown for 1,678 yards, 16 touchdowns and just one interception on a 70.9% completion rate this season. He’s already being thrown around in Heisman Trophy chatter. He finished 19-for-29 with 253 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee.
Yhonzae Pierre, LB: Looking at the stat sheet, Pierre doesn’t come across as Alabama’s best defensive player. But the sophomore and homegrown product has come into his own over the last two weeks. He recorded single-game season highs with six tackles and two forced fumbles against Mizzou. He followed it up with six tackles and 2.5 sacks against the Volunteers. Pierre might not be USC’s main focus, but that could open up lanes for him to have a third-straight standout performance.
South Carolina 2025 football schedule
- Aug. 31: South Carolina 24, Virginia Tech 11
- Sept. 6: USC 38, SC State 10
- Sept. 13: Vanderbilt 31, USC 7
- Sept. 20: Missouri 29, USC 20
- Sept. 27: USC 35, Kentucky 13
- Oct. 11: LSU 20, USC 10
- Oct. 18: Oklahoma 26, USC 7
- Oct. 25 vs. Alabama - 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
- Nov. 1 at Ole Miss - TBD
- Nov. 15 at Texas A&M - TBD
- Nov. 22 vs. Coastal Carolina - TBD
- Nov. 29 vs. Clemson - Noon (ABC or ESPN)
