Citrus Bowl Preview: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
The 15th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks take on the 20th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini for an exciting college football showdown in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Tuesday, December 31 at 3:00 PM ET at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Market college football betting odds reflect the Gamecocks as favorites with a point spread at -10.0 (-115) at MyBookie.
South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Preview
The Gamecocks are currently on a six-game win streak as they head into the Citrus Bowl. Their most recent victory was a 17-14 outing over the 12th-ranked Clemson Tigers.
They were down 14-7 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Gamecocks put up a 10-0 run to cap it off. LaNorris Sellers scored the game-winning touchdown with just about a minute to go left in the game, as he rushed 16 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns. For passing, Sellers recorded an interception but completed 13 of 21 passes for 164 yards.
Each team had similar numbers on offense, as the Gamecocks led with 431 yards and had possession of the ball for almost 31 minutes. They had three turnovers, but did force two on the Tigers.
The Gamecocks rank 39th overall for producing 31.6 points a game. Defensively they allow 17.8 points a game, ranking 13th, which offers a generous spread. They also have the 18th-toughest strength of schedule, so they did a great job this year given their performances.
Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview
The Fighting Illini have won their last three games and have scored 38 points in each of those games. Their most recent success was a 38-28 win over the Northwestern Wildcats.
A huge milestone occurred for the Fighting Illini with their win over the Wildcats. They recorded their ninth win of the season, which is something they have not done in 17 years. Aidan Laughery stood out with his 12 carries totaling 172 yards and two touchdowns.
They put up 382 yards and allowed the Wildcats to reach 442. However, their two turnovers were not as consequential as forcing the Wildcats to have four. They also had possession of the ball for about 25.5 minutes.
The Fighting Illini are 62nd in averaging 28.9 points a game and are 34th in allowing 22.1 points from opponents. They also ranked 41st for their strength of schedule this season, putting them in a solid spot each matchup.
Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick
MyBookie showcases the best Cheez-It Citrus Bowl odds, favoring the Gamecocks by 10 points. The Gamecocks also have a 72.3 percent chance of winning, according to market predictions.
The Gamecocks flirted with a top-10 finish in the rankings and are arguably a dangerous team coming into this matchup. Look for the Gamecocks to cover the spread.
Final Pick: South Carolina Gamecocks -10.0 (-115)
