Every Friday morning during CFB season I join Columbia sports talk legend Teddy Heffner on his Fox Sports 1400 show around 9:15 to pick some of the biggest games of the week. If you beat my picks you may win a tailgate package from Mathias Sandwich Shop on St Andrews Rd. Text your picks and your answer for the tiebreaker to 803-315-3292.
Coastal Carolina at South Carolina (-23.5) Preview
4:15 PM ET, SEC Network+
Coastal Carolina (6-4) rolls into Williams-Brice to face South Carolina who is favored by 23.5. The Chanticleers lost a shootout to Georgia Southern 45-40 last week. Their D allowed in the 3 games before this 27 to Georgia State, 27 to Marshall and 37 to App State. They are very sus! Gamecocks looked like world beaters in the first half against #3 TX A&M hanging 30 on the Aggies. If only they had scored in the 2nd half...even a safety would have won it as they go down 31-30 in a heartbreaking loss.
23.5 is a big number, but Coastal’s secondary gets torched and South Carolina needs to feel good about themselves before the Clemson game. South Carolina covers.
Furman at Clemson (-44) Preview
12:00 PM ET, ACC Network
FCS Furman (3-7) visits Death Valley where Clemson (5-5) is a 44-point favorite. The Paladins handled VMI last week 32-14 and allow 32 PPG to FCS competition. Tigers have won 42 straight against non-FBS teams by an average of 41 points and covered the last eight home FCS games. Tigers need this game to become bowl eligible. They also don't want any injuries before they play the Gamecocks. According to Covers.com, the last time Clemson covered a spread versus an FCS opponent was in 2020 versus The Citadel (49-0 win with a 44.5-point spread).
Dabo should be playing the backups by the third quarter. Furman covers. .
Arkansas at Texas (-10.5) Preview
12:00 PM ET, ESPN
Arkansas (2-9) heads to Austin to face No. 5 Texas (9-1), favored by 10.5. The Razorbacks opened the season 2-0 but have now lost 9 straight. Their last win was Sept 6th vs AR State. Texas was humiliated by Georgia last week and have now dropped to 17th. D allowing only 15.8 PPG (top-10 nationally). Texas is 8-2 ATS this year and 14-3 at home under Sark.
Razorbacks can run it, but Texas stuffs the run (3.1 YPC allowed). Texas covers.
Kentucky at Vanderbilt (-9.5) Preview
7:00 PM ET, SEC Network
Kentucky (5-5) needs a win to become bowl eligible and visits Vanderbilt (8-2), favored by 9.5. The Wildcats beat Murray State 48-6 but have lost four of five, with Cutter Boley still raw (56% completion). Vanderbilt escaped Auburn in OT last week and lost to Texas. Commodores are 8-2 ATS and have covered six straight at FirstBank Stadium. They want to sneak into the Playoffs they need style points
Kentucky’s offense is 112th nationally and Vandy’s D is top-25 in havoc rate. Vanderbilt covers.
Tennessee at Florida (+4.5) Preview
7:30 PM ET, ABC
No. 20 Tennessee (7-3) invades The Swamp to face Florida (3-7), getting 4.5 points at home. The Vols destroyed Mississippi State 41-24 but have been shaky on the road (1-2 SU in true road games). Florida is coming off a 42-20 loss to Texas but the Gators are 6-1 ATS at home. Nico Iamaleava has thrown 6 picks in the last four games and Florida’s pass rush is top-20 in sacks.
Swamp at night is chaos, and Tennessee’s secondary is vulnerable to big plays. Gators pull the upset outright. Florida +4.5 is the play.
Duke at North Carolina (+6.5) Preview
12:00 PM ET, ACC Network
Rivalry week in Chapel Hill has Duke visiting North Carolina, with the Tar Heels getting 6.5. Duke got badly beat by Virginia last week and they they’re 1-3 on the road. UNC smoked Wake Forest 45-24 with Max Johnson back healthy and the Heels averaging 38 PPG at home. Tar Heels have won four of the last five in the series and are 7-2 ATS as home dogs the last three years.
Kenan will be rocking and UNC’s tempo wears down Duke’s front. North Carolina covers.
USC at Oregon (-10) Preview
7:30 PM ET, FOX
USC heads to Autzen Stadium to face No. 1 Oregon (10-0), favored by 10 in a Big Ten nightcap. The Trojans rank 102nd in total defense and recently gave up 38 to Washington. Oregon is 9-1 ATS and has covered six straight at home.
Autzen will be deafening, and USC’s secondary can’t handle Oregon’s speed. Ducks win by 21+. Oregon covers.
Tie Breaker
Total combined penalty yards in the South Carolina and Clemson games? 300
Photo: Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images