Greg McElroy is calling for Oklahoma to protect home turf Saturday in a game he expects to stay tight all the way through.
The former Alabama quarterback broke down South Carolina’s Week 9 trip to Norman on his Always College Football podcast earlier this week, and he landed on the Sooners in a narrow one. His final score prediction: Oklahoma 23, South Carolina 21.
That pick comes with plenty of respect for what South Carolina has done lately. The Gamecocks have bounced back hard after dropping three straight, then turned their season around with a pair of eye-catching wins - first at Florida and then at home against Tennessee.
Now sitting at 4-3 overall and 2-3 in SEC play, South Carolina is suddenly carrying real momentum into a 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network.
Oklahoma isn’t exactly limping in, either. The Sooners are 4-3 and 2-2 in the SEC after a road win over Mississippi State, giving both teams some juice despite being unranked.
McElroy thinks that energy will translate into a low-scoring slugfest.
“I’m taking Oklahoma to win the game, 23-21, at home. I do think the Gamecocks will keep it very close, and I think the game will be very low-scoring,” McElroy said.
“Oklahoma’s defense, that’s the best unit in the stadium. But the offense, they’ve scored more than 23 points in only 2 games this season.
I’m not sure they can pull away. The Sooners get it, but it might be ugly, and it might be a defensive battle.”
That’s the frame heading into Saturday: two unranked SEC teams, both with something to prove, and McElroy leaning toward the Sooners in a game he expects to be decided by a possession or two.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Is Bracing For South Carolina At Full Strength
South Carolina heads to Norman on Saturday afternoon for just the second meeting in program history, and the Gamecocks arrive with some momentum after beating Tennessee last week. Oklahoma is coming off a win at Mississippi State, but Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle made it clear this is the kind of matchup that gets their attention, especially with South Carolina showing it can stress opponents on both sides of the ball.
The Sooners are preparing for a complete challenge, from the Gamecocks offense to a defense that has been tough to sort out. With playmakers on both sides of the line of scrimmage, South Carolina gives Oklahoma a chance to find out how it handles a physical SEC opponent that has plenty working in its favor right now. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Faces A Brutal Test To Keep Its SEC Push Alive
South Carolina heads to Norman on Saturday for a tricky SEC road test against Oklahoma, with kickoff set for 4:15 p.m. The Gamecocks are carrying the momentum of a win over Tennessee, while the Sooners come in off a victory against Mississippi State, setting up a matchup that carries plenty of weight for both teams as the conference race tightens.
There is still plenty around the game to monitor beyond the matchup itself, including South Carolinas injury situation, the betting market that has installed Oklahoma as the favorite, and the weather outlook for game day. For a Gamecocks team trying to keep its SEC push on track, this trip feels like the kind that can say a lot about where things are headed next. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolinas Defensive Turnaround Against Tennessee Was About More Than Halftime Speech
South Carolinas defense looked like a different unit after halftime against Tennessee, and the turnaround had plenty to do with the details that often decide close SEC games. Defensive tackle Kelby Collins and lineman Noah Clark pointed to the groups focus and effort as the difference, while Shane Beamer said the staff also leaned into a few tactical changes that helped settle things down.
The Gamecocks tightened up with more five-man pressure looks and more man coverage, and the results showed up quickly as Tennessee managed just three points after the break. It was the kind of second-half correction that can get lost in the larger story of a game, but for South Carolina it served as a reminder that the fix was about execution as much as any sideline message. [Read more 🡒]