South Carolina Gamecocks Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

Coming off back to back losing seasons both straight up and against the odds, the 2004 South Carolina Gamecocks were given scant attention either by the media or the sports betting bloggers as the excitement of Lou Holtz’s arrival as head coach had long since subsided. Carolina, in fact, had gone just 8-16 (.333) against the sports betting line in 2002-2003 combined and developed a reputation as a team to avoid having having on one’s list of football picks.

Carrying such a bad streak against the odds, however, opened the possibility of a sports handicapping market correction for the Gamecocks at the start of 2004 and that is exactly what happened, at least early on. South Carolina beat the sports betting line in four of their first five games of the season, winning four of those straight up as well, and with that success they began to receive attention both in the regular sports media and at online sports betting blogs. Many in sports handicapping were reconsidering South Carolina as a possible team to use on their lists of football picks.

Just as they shed the “losers” image with sports bettors, South Carolina burned their bankrolls in their very next game at home against struggling Ole Miss, where as 17-point chalks they lost straight up 28-31. South Carolina had never fared consistently well under Holtz as double digit chalks and the fact that they were bet up so high is a shining testament to the concept of real sports handicapping value.

Again, in their very next game, South Carolina was overvalued as 13-point chalks at Kentucky. Kentucky certainly would not be confused with an SEC powerhouse but this was ridiculous, and Carolina barely escaped with a 12-7 win.

Carolina amazingly continued to be overvalued in their next game at home versus Tennessee, who was struggling as well but still well regarded. The Cocks were blown out 29-43 as one-point chalks and fully exposed as frauds in the mind of sports betting bloggers, as well as the general sports media.

Carolina, as it turned out, dropped its final six games against the odds to finish 4-7 against the number for a total overall three-year record of 12-23 against the odds.