#2 Alabama heads to Columbia, SC this week for a conference match-up against South Carolina. The game will take place at Williams-Bryce Stadium at 3:30 pm eastern.

After a loss to North Carolina in the season opener in which Jake Bentley went down with a possibly season-ending injury, the Gamecocks look to show that they are in fact a team that can give SEC opponents trouble. Many analysts and fans alike have jumped ship on South Carolina after their alarming opening loss, and although nobody realistically expects them to win this game, it is a chance to show that they are a team good enough to at least compete with top tier opponents.

Alabama has been dominant in its first two games, scoring over 40 points in each. There was some uncertainty surrounding the Tide during the off-season as many of their key coaches moved on to new positions. However, they are not going anywhere. Alabama easily dispatched of Duke in the season opener, and absolutely destroyed New Mexico State in week two. This game will present a little bit more of a challenge for the Tide, but they should still be able to overcome a struggling South Carolina team fairly easily if they play well.

Alabama of course returns one of the best offenses in the country, headlined by the dynamic quarterback-wide receiver duo of Tua Tagovailoa and Jerry Jeudy. They have had no trouble scoring in their first two games, and although the Gamecocks defense is certainly a step up from what they have faced previously, the Tide should have no trouble scoring enough points to win, even if their less-staunch-than-usual defense allows true freshman Ryan Hillinski to make some plays.

Not many people are giving South Carolina a chance in this game, but with a new starting quarterback and increased confidence after an easy week two win, the Gamecocks might be able to generate some offense against the Crimson Tide. However, it is hard to envision South Carolina’s defense having any success against Alabama’s vaunted offense.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football TV channel

The game will air on CBS at 3:30 p.m. eastern time.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Carolina Gamecocks players to watch

Ryan Hillinski will be starting his second game for South Carolina against Alabama this week. The true freshman quarterback was thrust into the starting role after senior and three year starter Jake Bentley was injured near the end of their loss to UNC in the opener. Hillinski impressed in his first start, throwing for 280 yards and 2 touchdowns while maintaining an 80% completion percentage. However, his first start was against Charleston Southern. It’s an understatement to say that he will experience quite a jump in opposition talent this week. If Hillinski performs against one of the top defenses in the nation, the already rolling Hillinski hype train will accelerate fast. If he struggles, like most expect he will, South Carolina may have a very difficult time scoring points against a staunch Crimson Tide defense.

Another key offensive player for the Gamecocks is running back Tavien Feaster. Unlike Hillinski, Feaster has proven that he can be an elite running back at the highest level. The former Clemson Tiger transferred to South Carolina during the off-season, but has yet to make the huge impact which was the expectation for him this season. Facing a stifling secondary with a true freshman quarterback, the Gamecocks will have to utilize their run game in a big way if they hope to succeed against Alabama offensively. Feaster will have to be a big part of that. He has the talent, we have seen his abilities in the past, but can he put it all together for South Carolina and perform at an elite level?

Obviously Tua Tagovailoa and his partner in crime Jerry Jeudy are players to watch in this game, but they are already known to be some of the best in the game. We’ll instead focus our attention on some lesser known Alabama players who could have a big impact.

Patrick Surtain was one of the better cornerbacks in college football in 2018, but he had some difficulty in the college football playoff. Match-ups against CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, and Justyn Ross in the playoff were difficult for Surtain, who struggled to effectively cover the star wide receivers. The Tide are expecting a big jump from the sophomore, who looks to build on his 2018 campaign by adding the ability to cover elite receivers as well as mediocre ones. He hasn’t faced a real test yet this season, but this game against South Carolina will give him the opportunity to test his mettle against athletic and talented receivers. If Surtain locks down his side of the field on Saturday, he could be on the path to recognition as one of the best corners in the game.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football odds

Alabama is favored by 25.5 points in this game, up from 21 earlier this week.

The over/under line is up to 60.5, but down from a higher 61.5 this week.

Predictions

Here are the SDS staff predictions including the Alabama vs. South Carolina game:

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Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football history

Alabama and South Carolina have faced off 14 times in the past. Alabama currently leads the series 10-4, they also hold the larger win streak of 8 dating from 1937-1992. In 1945, the Crimson Tide bested the Gamecocks 55-0, marking the largest margin of victory between the two programs.

Alabama Crimson Tide 2018 football season review

Alabama had a stellar season in 2018, going 12-0 in the regular season with marquee wins against LSU, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State. They came from behind to beat Georgia in the SEC Championship. In the playoffs the Crimson Tide dispatched of Oklahoma before a 44-16 loss to Clemson in the CFP Championship Game.

Additional Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the game?

3:30 p.m. eastern time on Saturday, September 14, 2019.

What channel is the game on?

CBS.

Where is the game being played?

The game is being played at Williams-Bryce Stadium in Columbia, SC.