Staff Picks: South Carolina at Oklahoma, other Week 8 matchups

Will it be winless October two years in a row? Or will South Carolina head into the bye week on a high note and win its first October game since Oct. 22, 2022?

Something will have to give this weekend as the Gamecocks head to Oklahoma to face the Sooners on Saturday. Kickoff will be at 12:45 p.m. on SEC Network.

Here’s how the GamecockCentral and 107.5 The Game staff sees this game going plus a few predictions on other key matchups this weekend.

George Bagwell: Oklahoma’s offensive line is in shambles, from what I’ve seen. That should bode well for a Gamecocks defensive line that has been the star of the program through one half of the year so far. LaNorris Sellers, if you take out the fumbles, (I know that’s a big if) had one of his best games as a Gamecock last weekend against Alabama in a hostile environment. Gamecocks by 10+ this weekend. South Carolina 31, Oklahoma 15.

Peyton Butt: I think the game will be really close and will come down to the wire but I think South Carolina will pull out a late victory. The Gamecocks are in dire need of a win and I think with Oklahomas struggling offense I think South Carolina’s defense is looking for a major step in the right direction after the Alabama game. South Carolina 24, Oklahoma 20.

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Elijah Campbell: This is it! This HAS to be the break through for this Gamecock football team where they can take advantage of a wounded team and steal a win in October. A loss would be crushing to the goals of doing any better than 7-5. I think they get it done with the strength of the defensive line against a horrendous Oklahoma offensive line and a little hopeful optimism that LaNorris Sellers and company avoid back breaking turnovers. Take the under! South Carolina: 17, Oklahoma 13.

Chris Clark: The Gamecocks and Sooners have some similarities: young QB, strong defenses, questions up front. This one will come down to a few plays and which team makes the least mistakes. Here’s thinking the USC defense is a bit better. South Carolina 21, Oklahoma 17.

Terry Ford: The Sooners offense is AWFUL. One of the worst in America. The Gamecocks defense is overall better than the Sooners D as well. Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Bob Stoops ain’t walking through that door. This is not your, your father’s or your grandfather’s Oklahoma. The Sooners do two things well, get sacks and force turnovers, obviously two things the USC offense has had problems with. BUT….If Carolina doesn’t shoot itself in the feet, they will get a nice road win. South Carolina 20, Oklahoma 10.

Griffin Goodwyn: Saturday’s contest will serve as a meeting between two offenses that have struggled throughout the 2024 season. South Carolina ranks 14th in the SEC with 27.5 points per game, while Oklahoma trails just behind in 15th with 24.3. The difference in matchup will come down to defense, which is where the Gamecocks have an advantage. South Carolina’s defense has helped it stay in the game against top-16 teams in the SEC earlier in the year, and it is more than capable of doing so against the Sooners, even though the Gamecocks will be facing a tough road environment in Norman. South Carolina 24, Oklahoma 20. 

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Tyler Head: The Gamecocks should win this game so long as they don’t shoot themselves in the foot. Sellers and Rocket need to have big days on the ground and the pass rush should wreak havoc on a weak OU offensive line. Points will be at a premium, it’ll feel like an old school SEC grinder. South Carolina 17, Oklahoma 10.

Wes Mitchell: I said a month ago on GC Live that South Carolina was going to beat Oklahoma this season and I’m sticking to that. The main reasons then? Oklahoma’s makeshift offensive line won’t hold up against the Carolina front. And I like the Gamecocks quarterback situation way better. South Carolina 24, Oklahoma 14.

Jay Philips: The Gamecocks offense got going again in Tuscaloosa, but unfortunately the self-inflicted stuff bit them again too, resulting in both an encouraging performance and a painful defeat. Oklahoma is not good offensively, but their D is very good and very opportunistic. They’ll look to exploit what Carolina doesn’t do well, while Clayton White’s defense will continue to be leaned on by the Gamecocks. In a close one, give me South Carolina 23, Oklahoma 20.

Kendall Smith: South Carolina needs a win this week, and I think they have a lot to build on from a performance that last week, despite the loss, had some bright moments. We always said this was the game we felt best about South Carolina winning in October, so let’s go with it. South Carolina, 27, Oklahoma 21. 

Mike Uva: Finding some rhythm offensively in the second half against Alabama, look for the Gamecocks offense to carry that over this weekend into Norman as they play with a much-needed spark. Much needed because with a bye week coming up after this week, I can’t imagine things staying the same on that side of the ball if they look flat again this weekend. South Carolina 27, Oklahoma 17.

Jack Veltri: The only thing stopping South Carolina from winning these close games is South Carolina. It’s always been that way. The Gamecocks just can’t get out of their own way. However, I just have a feeling this week is going to be different. Especially when it comes to turnovers, I think LaNorris Sellers is a good enough player to not make the same mistakes two weeks in a row. He’s going to be the difference in this game, along with a great performance from the defense. And we will not be talking about two years of winless October! Just play your brand of football and don’t shoot yourself in the foot. You’re the better team in this game. Go out and play like it. Wow, that was so motivational of me. South Carolina 17, Oklahoma 13.

[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Texas A&M football game]

Chris Wellbaum: Oklahoma is a mess on both sides of the ball but especially on offense. South Carolina has a stout defense and better playmakers at QB, RB, and WR. Everything points to the Gamecocks. So this feels like one of those games where the desperate team plays with more intensity and pulls out the win. Oklahoma 17, South Carolina 9.

Also North Dakota State will defend the FargoDome and reclaim the Dakota Marker after five straight losses to South Dakota State. Even though the Jackrabbit mascot and I are friends.

Kevin Miller: South Carolina and Oklahoma have been similar football teams this year. Both teams have struggled on offense while playing good defense. The Gamecocks and Sooners also both have young quarterbacks who can impact the game with their legs. This matchup will come down to avoiding the big mistakes, something I think the Gamecocks will do. South Carolina 20, Oklahoma 13.

	Fresno State at Nevada	Nebraska at Indiana	Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan	Alabama at Tennessee	Toledo at Northern Illinois	Michigan at Illinois	LSU at Arkansas	Georgia at Texas
George Bagwell (32-31)	Fresno State	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Illinois	Arkansas	Georgia
Peyton Butt (33-30)	Nevada	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Michigan	LSU	Georgia
Elijah Campbell (44-19)	Nevada	Nebraska	Central Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Illinois	LSU	Texas
Chris Clark (35-28)	Fresno State	Indiana	Central Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Michigan	LSU	Texas
Terry Ford (46-17)	Fresno State	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Illinois	LSU	Georgia
Griffin Goodwyn (42-21)	Fresno State	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Illinois	LSU	Texas
Tyler Head (36-27)	Fresno State	Nebraska	Eastern Michigan	Tennessee	Northern Illinois	Illinois	LSU	Texas
Wes Mitchell (40-23)	Fresno State	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Toledo	Illinois	Arkansas	Texas
Jay Philips (40-23)	Fresno State	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Tennessee	Northern Illinois	Michigan	LSU	Georgia
Kendall Smith (34-29)	Nevada	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Tennessee	Northern Illinois	Michigan	LSU	Texas
Mike Uva (37-26)	Fresno State	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Illinois	LSU	Texas
Jack Veltri (39-24)	Nevada	Nebraska	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Illinois	LSU	Georgia
Chris Wellbaum (38-25)	Fresno State	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Illinois	LSU	Texas
Kevin Miller (12-6)	Fresno State	Indiana	Eastern Michigan	Alabama	Northern Illinois	Michigan	LSU	Texas

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