The last day of 2024 is upon us, and I’m ready to round out this year on a high note. Yesterday we snagged a greasy win with Missouri thanks to its kicker drilling some bombs, and I’m hoping to keep the momentum going today. Let’s close the year with another winner. I have a FREE South Carolina-Illinois CFB pick for you, and be sure to check out more +EV college football bets here at OddsShopper.
Free College Football Expert Pick Today: South Carolina-Illinois
Free CFB Expert Pick: South Carolina -8.5
South Carolina is simply the better team, and it’s been playing like it. It’s 9-3 on the year and riding a six-game win streak that includes victories over ranked teams in Texas A&M, Missouri and Clemson. It came close to making the playoffs, and its quarterback LaNorris Sellers has been excellent leading this squad.
While South Carolina will be without a key defensive player in Kyle Kennard, the core of the team is intact. It has its main pieces ready to go, and it’s shown it can handle adversity throughout the season.
Illinois is also 9-3, but not all 9-3 records are created equal. Its wins don’t impress me much — beating teams like Michigan State and Nebraska isn’t moving the needle. Meanwhile, its losses to Penn State, Oregon and Minnesota highlight the gap between it and top-tier competition.
To make matters worse for Illinois, it’ll be missing Pat Bryant, one of its top -catchers. Both teams are dealing with a few absences, but Illinois doesn’t have the depth to compensate like South Carolina does.
South Carolina has clear advantages on both sides of the ball. It’s tough to defend, especially with a dual-threat quarterback in Sellers. Its offense should grind down Illinois, while its defense will keep the Illini in check. I don’t see Illinois finding much success offensively in this game.
I’m calling for a double-digit win for the Gamecocks.
Best South Carolina-Illinois Bet: South Carolina -8.5 (-110, DraftKings)
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