Alabama opens as big betting favorite in Week 9 road test vs. South Carolina
By David Wasson
Published:
The Alabama Crimson Tide became the first SEC team in history to record 4 straight victories against Top 25 teams without separation of a bye week this past weekend.
The Crimson Tide take their 6-1 record on the road in Week 9 against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Circa Sports has Alabama listed as an 11-point favorite heading into Saturday’s matchup with South Carolina (3:30 pm, ABC), with the total opening at 48.5 points.
Alabama is 14-3 against South Carolina all time, but the Tide is just 4-2 at Williams-Brice Stadium. Alabama has won 2 straight games, including last season’s 27-25 victory in Tuscaloosa. South Carolina’s last victory came in 2010, a 35-21 win in Columbia that saw the 19th-ranked Gamecocks upset the then-No. 1 Tide.
Alabama’s 6-game winning streak was capped Saturday with a 37-20 victory over then-No. 11 Tennessee. South Carolina is 3-4 entering the Week 9 home test, having lost 4 of its past 5 games including Saturday’s 26-7 setback at home against Oklahoma. Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer is just 7-28 when coaching against Top 25 teams during his 4+ years in Columbia.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
