2017 Free College Football Picks – South Carolina @ NC State Odds & Prediction 9/2/17

2017 Free College Football Picks – South Carolina @ NC State Odds & Prediction 9/2/17: The South Caroline Gamecocks and NC State Wolfpack will kick off their 2017 College Football schedules with an opener against each other in Charlotte, North Carolina in week 2 action on September 2nd. The odds makers at Bovada Sportsbook have posted the early betting line on this SEC vs ACC matchup and NC State is a -5 point favorite with the total at over/under 52 points. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 PM EST from Bank of America Stadium. Let’s take a closer look at this Gamecocks vs Wolfpack matchup and make our free college football picks on who will cover the spread and what the final score will be. Read below. You can bet on this game by opening up an online sportsbook account at any of the top USA betting sites including our top choice, Bovada.

2017 Free College Football Picks – South Carolina @ NC State Odds & Prediction 9/2/17

Game: South Carolina @ NC State
Line: NC State -5 at Bovada Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 52 points at Bovada
Where: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC
Time: 3 PM EST
Date: Saturday, September 2nd, 2017

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp enters his 2nd season in charge of the Gamecocks program and expectations are high for a sound improvement over last season’s 6-7 team. Muschamp welcomes back 16 starters from last year’s squad that was up and down all season and finished with a 46-39 loss to South Florida in the Birmingham Bowl.

There is reason for optimism offensively this season despite a lackluster unit that finished just 116th nationally in total scoring at 20.8 points per game and 115th in total offense at 347.5 yards per game last season. The reason is 10 starters return in 2017 from last year’s unit and sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley should be much improved over last year’s freshman campaign. Bentley threw for just 1420 yards and 9 touchdowns last season in 7 starts but showed improvement in spring practice and the coaching staff feels he is ready to be a winner. Bentley has good talent around him led by junior wide receiver Deebo Samuel(59 catches, 783 yards in 2016) who is an outstanding athlete and who should be much improved after battling injuries for the 1st half of the season in 2016.

On the defensive side of the ball, Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson welcome 6 starters back from a unit that was 51st nationally in scoring allowed at 26.5 points per game and 66th nationally in yards allowed per game at 411.9. The defense has the potential be better this season in our opinion but is still probably a year or two away of excellent recruiting classes from being the dominant unit that Muschamp has promised to Gamecocks alumni, boosters and fans.

NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren enters the 2017 season with a lot of pressure as boosters and fans are getting impatient with him as the man in charge. Doeren is just 25-26 after 4 seasons as the Wolfpack head coach but is coming off of a 7-6 season including a 41-17 bowl win over Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl.

NC State offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz welcomes back 8 starters on offense in 2017 from a unit that scored just 27 points per game to finish 75th nationally last season. The unit averaged 416.4 yards per game to wind up 63rd nationally last season but the returning talent and incoming talent is there for considerable improvement this year. It starts with junior quarterback Ryan Finley who needs to improve after tossing for 3059 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Finley was solid last season but was too conservative and needs to open it up more downfield if NC State is to put up more points this season.

The Wolfpack made their bones last season by playing very good defense and that should continue this season with 8 starters back. The unit finished 27th in the country in points allowed at just 22.8 points per game last season and was stout in total yardage allowed too at just 352.8 yards per game. The defense is led by a superb defensive line that is one of the best units in the country with all 4 starters back led by senior defensive end Bradley Chubb(10.5 sacks in 2016).

South Carolina @ NC State Free Pick and Score Prediction: NC State to cover the spread at -5 and win the game by a score of 23-13.

Bet on the South Carolina @ NC State NCAA Football game at Bovada Sportsbook