FBS-CFB Game Preview: Kentucky Wildcats (2-1) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (2-2)

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Venue & Game Info

Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, 1125 George Rogers Blvd, Columbia, SC 29201

Kickoff: 7:45 PM ET (4:45 PM PT)

Broadcast: SEC Network

Capacity: ~77,500

Weather Forecast (Columbia, SC)

Conditions: Clear skies, mild evening

Temperature: ~74°F at kickoff, dropping into the upper 60s by the 4th quarter

Wind: Light, 4–6 mph

Impact: Ideal football weather, minimal effect on passing/kicking game

Injury Report

Kentucky Wildcats:

RB Seth McGowan (ankle) – Probable

WR Barion Brown (hamstring) – Questionable

South Carolina Gamecocks:

OL Jakai Moore (knee) – Out

WR Juice Wells (foot) – Questionable

Key Player Matchups

QB Cutter Boley (UK) vs. QB LaNorris Sellers (SCAR)

Boley: 278 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs (efficient but low volume)

Sellers: 733 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT (dynamic dual-threat)

RB Seth McGowan (UK) vs. SCAR Front Seven

McGowan: 275 yards, 6 TDs in 3 games

SCAR rush defense: allowing 152 ypg (80th nationally)

WR Vandrevius Jacobs (SCAR) vs. UK Secondary

Jacobs: 215 yards, 2 TDs

UK pass defense: 278 ypg allowed (125th nationally)

Recent Team Form

Kentucky Wildcats (2-1, 0-1 SEC)

Last game: Beat Eastern Michigan 48–23

Strength: Ground game (214.7 ypg, 28th nationally)

Weakness: Pass defense (struggles against vertical attacks)

South Carolina Gamecocks (2-2, 0-2 SEC)

Last game: Lost to Missouri 29–20

Strength: QB play, explosive WRs

Weakness: Offensive line, penalties, 3rd-down conversions (118th nationally)

Conference Context

SEC East battle

Both teams desperate for a win to avoid falling behind in divisional race

South Carolina faces brutal schedule ahead (LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M)

Kentucky has Georgia, Texas, Tennessee looming

Series History

All-time: South Carolina leads 20–14

Last 4 meetings: South Carolina 3–1

Trend: Gamecocks have covered 3 of last 4 vs. Kentucky

Betting Trends

South Carolina: 2–2 ATS this season

Kentucky: 1–2 ATS this season

Last 4 head-to-head: Under has hit in all 4

South Carolina has outscored Kentucky by 32 points in last 4 meetings

Historical Betting Results

2024: South Carolina 27, Kentucky 17 (SCAR -3, Under 49.5)

2023: South Carolina 24, Kentucky 14 (SCAR +2.5, Under 47)

2022: Kentucky 24, South Carolina 21 (UK -6, Under 46.5)

2021: South Carolina 30, Kentucky 17 (SCAR +4, Under 50.5)

Game Odds

Kentucky Wildcats                          47.5

South Carolina Gamecocks          – 5.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025