South Carolina vs Old Dominion Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Can South Carolina get out to a hot start?

After a disappointing 2023 the Gamecocks don’t have a ton of time to get up to speed with the SEC season opening next week against Kentucky with LSU to follow.

With a BRUTAL slate to deal with, a loss to a plucky Old Dominion would be devastating.

The Monarchs got to a bowl game last year, and they have a few amazing players who could be really, really annoying if the Gamecocks aren’t sharp.

South Carolina vs Old Dominion Preview

South Carolina vs Old Dominion How to Watch
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
Game Time: 4:15 pm ET
Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
How to Watch: SEC Network
2023 Records: South Carolina (5-7), Old Dominion (6-7)
- Week 1 Schedule, Predictions

Why Old Dominion Will Win

The Monarchs might have the best player on the field in tacker-extraordinaire Jason Henderson back at linebacker. He leads a good, active defensive front that can get into the backfield to go along with a secondary that can hit.

Let’s just say the South Carolina offensive line has some proving to do when it comes to keeping defenses from destroying the quarterback.

As long as QB Grant Wilson and the offense don’t have a turnover problem, ODU could hang around in this way too long, but …

Why South Carolina Will Win

The Monarchs have pieces, but they don’t have the full pie.

They got hit hard in the transfer portal in a few key spots. The depth is a bit thin - to be nice - and the offensive line has to be far, far better. It wasn’t as bad as South Carolina’s front in pass projection, but it was hardly a rock.

The Gamecock defense has plenty of good playmakers who can come up with third down stops - the secondary should come up with at least two picks - to hold everything in check while the offense gets up to speed.

South Carolina vs Old Dominion: Who Will Win

In several ways these two are a lot alike - lots of transfer losses, inconsistent offensive lines, a few killer defenders to gloss over a few problems - but the talent level for South Carolina will start to break through as the game goes on.

This will hardly be anything scintillating from the SEC side, but it’s Week 1 and there are a LOT of kinks to be worked out. The USC pass rush will be better than the ODU version.

South Carolina vs Old Dominion Prediction, Betting Lines

South Carolina 37, Old Dominion 19
Line: South Carolina -21, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
South Carolina vs Old Dominion Must See Rating: 2.5

CFN Expert Picks
UNC at Minn | NDSU at Colorado
TCU at Stan | Clemson vs UGA
Penn St at WVU | Col St at Texas
Miami at Fla | UTEP at Neb
WKU at Bama | UNLV at Houston
ND at TA&M | UCLA at Hawaii
Fresno St at Mich | UNM at Arizona
USC at LSU | BC at FSU
Week 1 Schedule, Picks