Auburn Tigers versus South Carolina Gamecocks SEC Championship 2010 NCAAF Week 14 Odds, Preview, and Predictions: The No. 2 Auburn Tigers travel to the Georgia Dome to take on the Ole Ball Coach Steve Spurrier and his No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks in a rematch of an earlier game for the South Eastern Conference Championship at 4:00 PM ET on Saturday on CBS Sports. Auburn comes into the game undefeated and 1st in the SEC West while South Carolina is 9-3, 5-3 1st in the SEC East. This is the 6th time the Championship is a rematch of a regular season game and 4 of 5 of the earlier contests the previous winner won again. Auburn is led by the Heisman Trophy front runner quarterback Cam Newton who has been plagued by NCAA allegations that his father sought out money for him to attend school after Junior College. He was suspended and cleared of any wrong doing during the week and should have a clear mind to play the game, a scary though as the South Carolina defense has to prepare for the dual threat athlete who is almost guaranteed to win the Heisman.
“We’re glad he’s playing,” the venerable South Carolina coach said on the eve of the Southeastern Conference championship game. “He’s played all year, and it wouldn’t be right for him not to play when the championship’s on the line. I remember Joe Paterno saying one time, ‘You want to beat the other team when all their best players are playing.”‘ A win is an automatic bid to a BCS Bowl, but it would be for the BCS National Championship should Auburn win. Vegas odds makers have the Auburn Tigers a -5 1/2 point favorite at the Georgia Dome against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The Tigers won the Iron Bowl at Alabama with a 28-27 come from behind victory on the road at Alabama to move to 8-3 ATS for the season. Quarterback Cam Newton completed 13 of 20 passes for 216 yards while rushing 22 times for 39 yards with 3 passing and 1 rushing touchdowns. Auburn is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing South Carolina. Vegas odds makers have Cam Newton at -500 odds to win the Heisman Trophy.
South Carolina beat in state rival Clemson 29-7 to move to 7-4 ATS for the season. Quarterback Stephen Garcia completed 14 of 30 passes for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing 5 times for an additional 18 yards. “Next week is one of the biggest games that our team has ever played. We’re looking forward to it. We have a bunch of guys that like going on big stages. It was a big stage here tonight and it was a big stage down in Florida. But the really big stage is down in Atlanta.” — Coach Steve Spurrier, on playing in the SEC Championship Game. Odds makers at JustBET have the over/under for the total score at 61 1/2 points combined of the Auburn Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks.
I predict a South Carolina upset win after a let down by the Auburn Tigers, Go Gamecocks!