South Carolina vs Georgia football kickoff time, odds, stream, radio, weather
South Carolina kicks off a three-game homestand Saturday as it hosts the nation’s No. 1 team in a sold-out showdown.
Georgia will visit Columbia for the 35th time to face the Gamecocks. South Carolina last beat the Bulldogs in 2019 (in Athens), while UGA’s current co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was the head coach USC.
The Gamecocks lost their last game on the road to Arkansas 44-30.
What channel is the Georgia-South Carolina game on?
Who: Georgia Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0 SEC) at South Carolina Gamecocks (1-1, 0-1 SEC)
When: Noon Saturday (12:12 p.m. kickoff)
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) in Columbia, S.C.
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app
On-air announce crew: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Molly McGrath (sideline)
Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (Todd Ellis, play-by-play; Tommy Suggs, analyst; Jamar Nesbit, sideline) … See all the radio affiliates around South Carolina here.
Satellite radio: Sirius/XM 80
Series history: Georgia leads the all-time series 53-19-2. ... UGA has won six of the last seven games. ... South Carolina beat the Bulldogs five times in Steve Spurrier’s tenure as USC coach — the last win at Williams-Brice coming 38-35 in 2014.
Top storylines for the game
USC looks to bounce back: The Gamecocks are 1-1 after dropping their last game to Arkansas. The team struggled to stop the run but was more efficient offensively. Going against The Associated Press No. 1 team is a tall task but is an opportunity to see how the team continues its improved performance from last week.
Georgia’s hot start: Georgia decimated then-No. 11 Oregon in the first game of the season 49-3. It outscored its first two opponents 82-3 as it heads to Williams-Brice Stadium. South Carolina will have its hands full handling quarterback Stetson Bennett and the Bulldog offense.
Gamecock injuries: South Carolina lost Jordan Strachan and Mo Kaba for the rest of the year due to ACL injuries they suffered against Arkansas. Head coach Shane Beamer added that Cam Smith, David Spaulding, RJ Roderick, Corey Rucker and Alex Huntley were all questionable to play, so others will have to step up for USC.
Kirby Smart visits his protégé: Beamer coached under Smart from 2016-17 as a tight ends and special teams coach. Earlier this week, he said that Smart made him “a better football coach.” USC lost to Georgia last year in Athens 40-13.
Emergence of “Juice” Wells: Antwane “Juice” Wells has caught 15 passes this year for 244 yards. Look for QB Spencer Rattler to continue his connection for him, and for the Bulldogs to place emphasis on defending Wells.
Will Muschamp returns: Muschamp coached at South Carolina from 2016-20. He coached against USC last season, but this is his first time doing so in Columbia since departing for Georgia.
Can South Carolina slay the dragon?: Beamer on Tuesday said he didn’t want anyone on the team talking about “shocking the world.” However, if USC wins, it would be its first victory over the AP No. 1 team since 2010, when the then-No. 19 Gamecocks defeated Alabama 35-21.
Weather forecast for Columbia, SC
Saturday is projected to be sunny with an afternoon temperature of 86 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
ESPN FPI game prediction
ESPN’s Football Power Index gives South Carolina an 8.8% chance to beat the top-ranked Bulldogs.
Point spread for USC Gamecocks vs. Georgia
The line for Saturday’s game is in Georgia’s favor, currently putting USC as a 24.5-point underdog, according to the VegasInsider consensus line that factors in 11 sportsbooks.
Week 3 SEC college football betting lines
Odds according to VegasInsider consensus.
Saturday, noon: Youngstown State vs. Kentucky (-25.5)
Saturday, noon: Abilene Christian vs. Missouri (-33)
Saturday, noon: Georgia (-24.5) vs. South Carolina
Saturday, 3:30 p.m.: Penn State (-3) vs. Auburn
Saturday, 3:30 p.m.: Vanderbilt vs. Northern Illinois (-3)
Saturday, 3:30 p.m.: Ole Miss (-16.5) vs. Georgia Tech
Saturday, 4 p.m.: UL Monroe vs. Alabama (-49.5)
Saturday, 6 p.m.: Mississippi State (-2) vs. LSU
Saturday, 7 p.m.: Missouri State vs. Arkansas (-23)
Saturday, 7 p.m.: Akron vs. Tennessee (-47.5)
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.: South Florida vs. Florida (-24.5)
Saturday, 9 p.m.: Miami vs. Texas A&M (-5)
Players to watch
Antwane Wells, WR, South Carolina: Wells has starred in his role through two games. He’s up to 15 catches for 244 yards this year. South Carolina likes to incorporate him in many of its passing plays, so look for Wells to receive a bulk of targets from Spencer Rattler on Saturday.
Nick Emmanwori, DB, South Carolina: With injuries to the defensive side of the ball, Emmanwori’s stepped up for South Carolina. In the first two games this year, he’s made plays for the Gamecocks and garnered praise from the coaching staff. He’s second on the team in tackles with 14.
Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia: Bennett guided Georgia to its national championship win last year, and remains at the helm in 2022. He’s completed around 74% of his passes this year with 668 yards and three touchdown passes. Against USC’s injury-plagued defense, it’s possible that Bennett continues his efficient season.
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia: Bowers ranks third in passing yards for the Bulldogs with 95 so far this year on five catches. He could serve as an extra weapon in the passing game if Georgia looks to challenge the USC secondary, or help run block against the compromised interior of the Gamecocks.
South Carolina 2022 football schedule
Sept. 3: South Carolina 35, Georgia State 14
Sept. 10: Arkansas 44, South Carolina 30
Sept. 17: vs. Georgia, noon (ESPN)
Sept. 24: vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Oct. 1: vs. South Carolina State
Oct. 8: at Kentucky
Oct. 22: vs. Texas A&M
Oct. 29: vs. Missouri
Nov. 5: at Vanderbilt
Nov. 12: at Florida
Nov. 19: vs. Tennessee
Nov. 26: at Clemson
USC depth chart
——OFFENSE——
QB: Spencer Rattler (Luke Doty)
RB: MarShawn Lloyd (Juju McDowell —OR— Christian Beal-Smith)
TE1: Jaheim Bell (Nate Adkins)
TE2: Austin Stogner (Traveon Kenion)
WR1: Xavier Legette —OR—Antwane Wells
WR2: Ahmarean Brown —OR— Dakereon Joyner —OR— Corey Rucker
WR3: Jalen Brooks —OR— Josh Vann
LT: Jaylen Nichols (Jakai Moore)
LG: Vershon Lee (Trai Jones)
OC: Eric Douglas (Hank Manos)
RG: Jovaughn Gwyn (Wyatt Campbell)
RT: Dylan Wonnum (Tyshawn Wannamaker)
——DEFENSE——
DE1: Jordan Burch (Tyreek Johnson)
DE2: Gilbert Edmond (Terrell Dawkins)
DT1: Zacch Pickens (Tonka Hemingway)
DT2: Alex Huntley (MJ Webb)
MLB: Sherrod Greene (Stone Blanton)
WLB: Brad Johnson (Debo Williams)
NICK: Cam Smith (David Spaulding)
CB1: Marcellas Dial (Kajuan Banks, Keenan Nelson)
CB2: Darius Rush (O’Donnell Fortune, Emory Floyd)
SS: RJ Roderick (Nick Emmanwori)
FS: Devonni Reed (DQ Smith)
——SPECIAL TEAMS——
PK: Mitch Jeter (Alex Herrera)
KO: Mitch Jeter (Alex Herrera)
P: Kai Kroeger (Alex Herrera)
LSN: Hunter Rogers (Matthew Bailey)
SSN: Hunter Rogers —OR— Matthew Bailey
H: Kai Kroeger —OR— William Joyce
KOR: Xavier Legette (Juju McDowell)
PR: Josh Vann (Ahmarean Brown)
