FBS-CFB Game Preview: South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2) vs. LSU Tigers (4-1)

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Venue & Game Details

Stadium: Tiger Stadium (“Death Valley”) – Capacity 102,321

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Kickoff Time: 7:45 PM ET / 6:45 PM CT

Broadcast: SEC Network (night game under the lights in Death Valley)

Weather Forecast (Baton Rouge, LA)

Conditions: Clear skies, comfortable fall evening

Kickoff Temp: 62°F (17°C)

Wind: 4–6 mph

Precipitation: 0% chance

Impact: Ideal conditions for both passing and kicking games.

Injury Report

South Carolina Gamecocks

OL Jakai Moore – OUT

DB Emory Floyd – OUT

LB Andrew Colasurdo – OUT

WR Gage Larvadain – Probable (nagging injury, expected to play)

OL Trovon Baugh – Probable (ankle)

DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy – Probable

CB Brandon Mack III – Questionable

LSU Tigers

RB John Emery Jr. – OUT (season-ending)

DT Jacobian Guillory – OUT

DE Da’Shawn Womack – OUT

WR Chris Hilton Jr. – OUT

LB West Weeks – Questionable

WR Aaron Anderson – Questionable (hip/knee)

CB Zy Alexander – Probable

(LSU is thin on the defensive front; South Carolina’s O-line depth is also a concern.)

Key Player Matchups

QB Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) vs. South Carolina Secondary

Nussmeier: 1,157 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs, 67.3% completion.

USC Pass Defense: Allowing just 180.2 YPG (#31 nationally).

QB LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) vs. LSU Front Seven

Sellers: 886 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 66.7% completion; 234 total yards vs. Kentucky.

LSU Defense: #6 nationally in scoring defense (12.2 PPG allowed).

WR Vandrevious Jacobs (USC) vs. CB Zy Alexander (LSU)

Jacobs: 323 yards, 2 TDs, averaging 17.9 YPC.

Alexander: Probable return, key to LSU’s coverage unit.

RB Caden Durham (LSU) vs. LB Debo Williams (USC)

Durham: 213 yards, 2 TDs (limited by ankle injury).

Williams: 42 tackles, 4 TFL, defensive leader.

EDGE Dylan Stewart (USC) vs. LSU Offensive Tackles

Stewart: 20 pressures, 3 sacks in 2025.

LSU O-line: Struggled vs. Ole Miss, allowing 3 sacks.

Recent Team Form

South Carolina Gamecocks

Last game: Defeated Kentucky 35-13.

Losses: Vanderbilt (31-7), Missouri (29-20).

Offense: 308.6 YPG (#127 FBS), 24.8 PPG (#92).

Defense: 323.4 YPG allowed (#44), 18.8 PPG allowed (#33).

Strength: Opportunistic defense (+5 turnover margin).

Weakness: Rushing offense (99.8 YPG, #123 FBS).

LSU Tigers

Last game: Lost 24-19 at Ole Miss (Week 5), then bye week.

Notable win: Florida (20-10).

Offense: 363.8 YPG (#84), 27.0 PPG (#81).

Defense: 293.0 YPG allowed (#22), 12.2 PPG allowed (#6).

Strength: Elite defense, especially vs. run (84.4 YPG allowed, #14).

Weakness: Inconsistent offensive line, poor rushing efficiency.

Series History

All-Time Record: LSU leads 18-2-1 Winsipedia; LSU Wire][13].

Last Meeting: 2024 – LSU 36, South Carolina 33 (in Columbia).

Current Streak: LSU has won 8 straight.

In Baton Rouge: LSU leads 10-1.

Notable: South Carolina has never beaten LSU in Tiger Stadium.

Betting Trends

South Carolina:

3-2 ATS this season.

4-1 ATS in last 5 as road underdog of 7–13.5 points.

Under has hit in 3 of last 5 games.

LSU:

2-3 ATS this season.

7-3 ATS in last 10 home games.

Under has hit in 4 of last 5 games.

Totals:

Opened at 56, dropped to 44.5 (sharp money on Under).

Both teams trending toward low-scoring games.

Historical Betting Results

2024: LSU -3, covered vs. South Carolina (36-33).

2020: LSU -6.5, covered (52-24).

2015: LSU -18, covered (45-24).

South Carolina’s last cover vs. LSU: 2012 (+2.5, lost 23-21).

Projected Score: LSU 24, South Carolina 16

Game Odds

South Carolina Gamecocks          44.5

LSU Tigers                                           – 8.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 10, 2025