footballtopstar

Category: South Carolina Gamecocks

  • South Carolina Women’s Basketball vs. Texas: Viewing Guide, Predictions, Odds, Injuries, and Live Updates

    South Carolina Women's Basketball vs. Texas: Viewing Guide, Predictions, Odds, Injuries, and Live Updates

    Good afternoon! It’s a highly anticipated matchup today as the No. 2 South Carolina women’s basketball team heads to Austin, Texas, to face the No. 4 Texas Longhorns. Here’s everything you need to know for the game, including how to tune in, the latest predictions, odds, and injury updates.

    Who’s Playing:

    • No. 2 South Carolina (22-1, 10-0 SEC) vs. No. 4 Texas (23-2, 9-1 Big 12)

    When: Sunday, February 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET

    Where: Moody Center, Austin, Texas (10,763-seat arena)

    How to Follow the Game

    • TV Broadcast: ESPN will carry the game, with Ryan Ruocco handling play-by-play, Rebecca Lobo providing analysis, and Holly Rowe as the reporter.
    • Streaming: You can stream the game on ESPN’s website or app with your TV provider login.
    • South Carolina Radio/Streaming: Listen live on 107.5 FM (Columbia) or 96.3 FM (Florence). Brad Muller will call the game. The pregame show starts at 1:30 p.m. (in Columbia). Streaming is available on their website.
    • Texas Radio/Streaming: The Longhorn Radio Network will broadcast the game, with streaming available on TexasSports.com.
    • Satellite Radio/Streaming: Tune in to SiriusXM channels 191 or 211 or stream on SiriusXM.com.

    Betting Info:

    As of 10:35 a.m. on Sunday, South Carolina is favored by 2.5 points, with an over/under of 137.5.

    Regarding the NCAA Women’s Tournament future odds, South Carolina is a moneyline favorite at +155 (bet $100 to win $155) on FanDuel, followed by UCLA (+390), Notre Dame (+500), UConn (+550), and Texas at +2000. On DraftKings, South Carolina’s odds are at +175, with Texas at +1300.

    Predictions:

    Here’s how some predictions are shaping up:

    • Massey Ratings predicts a South Carolina win, 70-66, with a 58% chance for the Gamecocks to take the victory.
    • Bart Torvik gives a similar result, predicting South Carolina 69, Texas 68, with the Gamecocks having a 51% chance.
    • GamecockCentral and 107.5 The Game predictions include:
      • Tyler Head: Gamecocks 70-62
      • Kevin Miller: Gamecocks 78-66
      • Brian Shoemaker: Gamecocks 69-65
      • Jack Veltri: Gamecocks 73-63

    Injury Report:

    • South Carolina: Ashlyn Watkins is OUT for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL.
    • Texas: Both Aaliyah Moore and Laila Phelia are OUT. Moore has been a starter in 19 games, averaging 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Phelia has appeared in 8 games, averaging 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds.

    We’ll keep you updated throughout the game with live updates. Stay tuned to GamecockCentral for real-time commentary and join us on The Insiders Forum approximately 30 minutes before tip-off!

  • Report: San Francisco 49ers likely to trade Deebo Samuel

    Deebo Samuel may

    Deebo Samuel may have just played his last game for San Francisco.

    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that the 49ers are likely to consider trading Samuel this offseason. While Rapoport mentioned it isn’t a “certainty” that Samuel and the team will part ways, both parties are “at peace” with the possibility of moving on if the right deal comes through.

    The South Carolina product was selected 36th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft and has spent his entire six-year career with the 49ers.

    Samuel earned first-team All-Pro honors after a 1,405-yard receiving season in 2021. Although this was his only season surpassing the 1,000-yard mark, he has been a key contributor to San Francisco’s offense.

    In 2024, Samuel saw his lowest target count since his rookie year and set a career-low for receptions (excluding the 2020 season, when he played just seven games due to injury). He recorded only 670 receiving yards, marking his second-lowest total in a season.

    Last offseason, there were rumors about Samuel’s future when San Francisco drafted former Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round and extended Brandon Aiyuk. However, Samuel stayed with the team, stating in the summer, “We’re here, and we’re here to get better.”

    Samuel is entering the final year of a 3-year, $71.55 million extension he signed in July 2022, with $17.55 million still owed to him.

    Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, similar to Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now provides content on college football as a whole.

  • Shane Beamer Claims SEC Deserves Automatic CFB Playoff Bids Following Tough Bowl Season

    Shane Beamer

    Anyone who watched the bowl games at the close of 2024 and into the start of 2025 would know that the SEC endured a rough postseason in college football.

    Texas A&M fell to USC, Tennessee was crushed by Ohio State in the College Football Playoff, Alabama was defeated by a lackluster Michigan squad, Navy triumphed over Oklahoma, Illinois beat South Carolina, Arizona State had a potential fourth-quarter win over Texas overturned due to poor officiating, Notre Dame topped Georgia, and finally, Ohio State comfortably handled Texas, securing a second consecutive title for the Big Ten.

    While the SEC did manage some bowl victories and clearly had several top teams, no one who closely follows college football could argue that the results proved the SEC warranted more respect or automatic advantages.

    That is, except for South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, apparently.

    Shane Beamer Advocates for SEC Automatic Bids to the CFP

    Shane Beamer

    In an interview with On3’s Pete Nakos, Shane Beamer expressed his belief that the SEC deserves automatic bids to the College Football Playoff, stating that “it’s just different” in the SEC, which he believes justifies the conference’s place in the playoff.

    “The fact of the matter is, we beat the ACC Champion on their field this year and didn’t get in…I do believe this league is just different than others and there has to be some consideration.”

    That’s certainly an interesting perspective, though not one without its flaws.

    South Carolina suffered a loss to Illinois in a bowl game. Illinois, with a 9-4 season record, is hardly a team that warrants a playoff spot. They narrowly defeated Old Dominion by just four points at home, 23-19. They were also defeated by LSU, who finished unranked, and managed only three points in a 27-3 loss to Ole Miss. To top it off, they were defeated by a four-loss Alabama team.

    While they did secure a win against Clemson, a single victory over another conference champion doesn’t automatically guarantee playoff entry, even with 12 spots available.

    The idea that “it’s just different in the SEC” needs to be put to rest—yesterday, not today. Yes, the SEC boasts many excellent programs, some with storied success and others with recent triumphs. They also enjoy strong fan support and have a media presence that emphasizes the conference’s unique status. However, this “difference” is largely overstated.

    When USC was dominant in college football, there was no talk of the Pac-10 being “just different.” The same applies to Alabama’s dominance, as other SEC teams have acted as though Nick Saban’s success has somehow made the entire conference invincible in theoretical matchups.

    In reality, the SEC might have some advantages over other top conferences. For instance, the Big Ten teams now have to deal with cross-country travel, with West Coast teams traveling to places like Maryland or New Jersey. The SEC, however, remains primarily centered in the South, and even with expansion, travel remains easier. Moreover, the SEC plays eight conference games compared to the Big Ten’s nine, often using that extra non-conference game to schedule an FCS team for a de facto bye week.

    With 12 playoff spots, South Carolina only needed to avoid three losses to make it into the postseason. They couldn’t do that, and that’s why they didn’t make the cut.