South Carolina travels to No. 7 Alabama Saturday afternoon for an intriguing SEC conference matchup. This is just the 17th meeting between the two teams all time and the first since 2019. Alabama holds a 13-3 advantage in the series and hasn’t lost to the Gamecocks since 2010.
But if recent results have taught us anything, it’s that winning streaks don’t matter much in what’s turning out to be a chaotic season. Alabama is reeling following a 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt in Week 6, its first slip-up against the Commodores since 1984 and just the fourth time in program history that the Crimson Tide lost to an unranked opponent as the No. 1 team in the nation.
As a result, Alabama fell from that top spot to No. 7 in the latest AP Poll Top 25, which is the largest drop by a No. 1 team since 2010 when Ohio State plummeted all the way to No. 11 after a road loss against Wisconsin. The lesson: don’t take anything for granted.
On the other side, SEC play hasn’t been kind to South Carolina thus far. The Gamecocks generated significant buzz early in the year with a 31-6 trouncing of Kentucky, but then they lost a heartbreaker to LSU and are coming off a 27-3 trouncing at the hands of Ole Miss. Those three points are the fewest that South Carolina has scored under coach Shane Beamer since Nov. 27, 2021, when the Gamecocks were shut out against Clemson.
Alabama vs. South Carolina: Need to know
History says Alabama is primed for a bounce back: One week removed from the Crimson Tide’s monumental win against Georgia, Alabama’s loss to Vanderbilt was certainly shocking. History is on Kalen DeBoer’s side, though. Alabama has not lost consecutive regular season games since 2007 — Nick Saban’s first year with the program — and it has won 79 straight home games against unranked opponents, the longest such streak in 30 years. South Carolina has also lost each of its last seven games against ranked opponents, a streak dating back to the end of 2022.
Key is at the line of scrimmage: South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers hasn’t quite broken out like a lot of people may have expected. That isn’t due to a lack of talent, though. He simply hasn’t gotten much help — and he also spent some time injured earlier in the season. He’s also taking way too many hits. South Carolina is the only SEC team, and one of just three FBS programs, that has allowed more than 20 sacks thus far. The Gamecocks have allowed opposing defenses to get to the quarterback 22 times, which is more than any other school in the nation.
That being said, Alabama’s pass rush has been inconsistent this year. The Crimson Tide have 11 sacks, which is tied for 11th in the SEC. They didn’t get much pressure on Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, and didn’t get him to the ground once, even though the Commodores played ball-possession and took their time with their offensive approach. This same Alabama front did have three sacks against Georgia, and four in a game against South Florida. As illustrated above, the Gamecocks are vulnerable. It’s not a hot take to say that an SEC game will be decided in the trenches, but it will be fascinating to see which side gives way first.
What will Ryan Williams do this week?: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith has stolen headlines as the nation’s premier freshman phenom — deservedly so, he’s a special player — but Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams has been equally impressive. Williams’ 544 yards receiving through five games are the most for a true freshman since Michael Crabtree hauled in an absurd 920 yards in 2007. Williams’ six touchdowns through the air are tied with Smith to lead all freshmen, and his astounding 28.6 yards per catch leads the entire nation.
He has five receptions of at least 50 yards this season. Only five other teams in the nation have a collective five catches of 50-plus yards. He’s a threat to score anytime he touches the ball, and he generates at least one eye-popping play per week. It’s worth tuning into a game to see what he does. Oh, and did you know he’s just 17 years old?
How to watch Alabama vs. South Carolina live
Date: Saturday, Oct. 12 | Time: Noon ET
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium — Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: ABC | Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
Alabama vs. South Carolina prediction, picks
South Carolina doesn’t have the offensive weapons to pick Alabama apart like Vanderbilt did, but the Gamecocks are much better defensively. Especially along the line, where they should be athletic enough to keep Milroe in the pocket (for a majority of the game, at least) and force him to make throws. I actually expect this to be a pretty low scoring game and, although South Carolina is equipped to cover a massive spread, Alabama should still net a comfortable enough win. Pick: South Carolina +21.5 (-115)
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