Florida vs. South Carolina odds: Early point spread released on Gators, Gamecocks

Next Saturday, the Florida Gators will travel to Columbia to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Right around the midway point of the season, this has become one of the most anticipated games of Week 7 that both teams feel they need to win.

As of now, the folks out in Las Vegas are expecting this to be a very close game. South Carolina is starting the week as a very slight favorite. According to FanDuel, the Gamecocks are -2 coming into the game, making them a slight home favorite. The point total for the game is currently set at 52 points.

South Carolina comes into the game against Florida after a bye week. Prior to that, the Gamecocks lost a tough road game against Tennessee. One concern for South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer is a series of injuries that the Gamecocks have suffered.

Beamer addressed handling those injuries during the bye week during the SEC Teleconference.

“So, everyone practiced, nobody that we said, ‘Hey take these three days off, rest up.’ Certainly we were smart with our guys, too. Getting them work but also getting them healthy,” Beamer said.

Florida, on the other hand, is coming off a big win against Vanderbilt. That win was huge for a Florida team that needed to bounce back after losing badly to Kentucky the week before. Head coach Billy Napier noted the need to be mentally tough in the SEC after the win against Vanderbilt.

“I think the big thing is every week’s a new week,” Napier said. “In our league, you’ve got to have some mental toughness. You’ve got to get up off the ground, you’ve got to get back in the ring. Certainly, today was important because of Homecoming. This place is special. Our team, representing a lot of great people that came before us.”

Quarterback Spencer Rattler leads the Gamecocks into this game. Now in his fifth college season and second at South Carolina, Rattler is having arguably the best individual season of his career. He’s thrown for 1,411 yards and seven touchdowns in just five games. He’s been helped throughout the season by one of the SEC’s best wide receivers, Xavier Legette.

As for Florida, the Gators are led by quarterback Graham Mertz who is in his first season with the program. He has 1,474 yards and nine touchdowns at the halfway point in his regular season. He also has a great wide receiving option in Ricky Pearsall.

Florida has a 4-2 record overall and a 2-1 conference record. South Carolina, meanwhile, is 2-3 with a 1-2 record in SEC play.