Kentucky Wildcats (6-4) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (4-6)
Kentucky Wildcats vs. South Carolina Gamecocks 11/18/23 – Kentucky Wildcats take on South Carolina Gamecocks this Saturday as both teams look to secure a successful end to their regular seasons and secure bowl game berths. Fans and bettors alike are looking for college football picks to help navigate an electrifying SEC showdown.
The Wildcats have been buoyed by the performances of key players like running back Ray Davis and wide receiver Dane Key. Davis has provided Kentucky with a formidable rushing attack with 929 yards and 11 touchdowns on 929 attempts; Key has made significant contributions as receiver, collecting 477 yards and 4 touchdowns on 32 receptions while providing reliable targets in Kentucky’s aerial assault.
The Gamecocks boast their own notable performers. Running back Mario Anderson has been instrumental in their offensive success with 645 rushing yards and three touchdowns this year, providing seams in defense that may help against Kentucky. Wide receiver Xavier Legette stands out with 1093 receiving yards from 59 receptions which represents an additional threat against Kentucky’s secondary defense.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. South Carolina Gamecocks 11/18/23 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Williams-Brice Stadium |
| TV: | SECN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Devin Leary QB vs. Spencer Rattler QB
Devin Leary has had an eventful season leading the Kentucky Wildcats. Completed 164 out of 287 attempts with 2063 passing yards is testament to his savvy in the pocket. Leary has an admirable 57.1% completion rate and passer rating of 133.8, both commendable metrics which suggest he still has room to grow as a quarterback in high-pressure scenarios. His 19 touchdowns against 8 interceptions demonstrate his balance of risk-reward play style. Leary will be put through rigorous examination in this matchup as his leadership and ability to efficiently run the game will come under close examination. His challenge will be navigating South Carolina’s defense while exploiting its vulnerabilities – particularly by minimizing turnovers while capitalizing on his medium to long range passing ability.
Spencer Rattler of South Carolina Gamecocks boasts an impressive stat line. Rattler completed an astounding 70% of his passing attempts for 2867 yards at an outstanding completion percentage of 70.6%, underscoring his precision and decision-making as a passer. Rattler led South Carolina’s offense with 17 touchdown passes against 7 interceptions but also suffered 36 sacks resulting in loss of 251 yards across 36 attempts; against Kentucky’s aggressive defensive line his prowess will be put to the test as they aim to pressure quarterbacks like no one before him before.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Kentucky Wildcats -115, Total Odds: 53.5
Betting odds for Kentucky Wildcats’ matches are tightly set, with them slightly favoring at -115 to give an indication of increased confidence in their ability to win. A spread of -1 indicates a closely contested contest, while 53.5 total points may signal moderate scoring as an indicator of both teams’ respective offensive and defensive capabilities and strengths, reflecting recent performances that could make up betting decisions.
Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends
Kentucky has struggled against the spread, going 1-4 against it over their last five games, though their total has gone over in six of seven. Despite recent difficulties, they boast an impressive 8-2 ATS record when playing South Carolina over that span.
South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Trends
South Carolina has been inconsistent, posting a 2-4 ATS record in their last six games and seeing seven out of eight total go under against Kentucky, suggesting an aggressive defensive strategy may be in play here. They have, however, proven strong at home going 9-0 SU over that span.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. South Carolina Gamecocks 11/18/23 Betting Picks
This game presents a tight matchup, with both teams having strengths to exploit and weaknesses to cover. Kentucky, despite their recent ATS struggles, have shown the capacity to perform well against South Carolina historically.
For handicappers’ premium picks, the inclination might be towards Kentucky covering the spread, given their historical ATS success against South Carolina. The total points over could also be a viable option, considering both teams’ offensive capabilities and recent scoring trends.
Free Pick and Prediction: Kentucky Wildcats 28, South Carolina Gamecocks 24