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SOUTH CAROLINA (-4.0) 30 Kentucky 23
04:45 PM Pacific Time Thursday, Oct-04 -
Stats Matchup
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=s2>Kentucky’s Andre Woodson is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, but he’ll likely struggle tonight against a very good South Carolina pass defense that’s yielded just 3.4 yards per pass play (to teams that would combine to average 5.7 yppp against an average defense) and has not allowed more than 3.9 yppp in any game (3.9 yppp to Georgia, 3.1 yppp to LSU). The Gamecocks are a bit worse than average defending the run, so Kentucky’s very good ground game (236 yards at 6.4 yards per rushing play) will post some good numbers. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has turned to freshman Chris Smelley at quarterback in place of senior Blake Mitchell and Smelley has been good so far in averaging 6.6 yppp on 81 pass plays against teams that would allow 5.8 yppp to an average quarterback. Kentucky’s defense is only 0.1 yards per play better than average (5.2 yppl allowed to teams that would average 5.3 yppl) so the Gamecocks should move the ball well as long as one of their two injured running is able to play backs (Mike Davis and Cory Boyd are both listed as questionable, but I suspect at least one will play). My math model favors South Carolina by 4 points, so the line is fair, but Kentucky applies to a negative 27-68-1 ATS situation. That situation is not quite as negative for dogs of more than 3 points, so I’ll lean with South Carolina at -3 ½ or more and
I’d consider South Carolina a Strong Opinion at -3 or less.
:hang:
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