After a ridiculously tough stretch of games, the bye week is so close for Alabama players that they can almost taste it. The Crimson Tide has one more hurdle to clear before it gets a much-needed and deserved week off.
Alabama travels to South Carolina to battle the Gamecocks, hoping to win its seventh straight game since the disappointing loss to Florida State to open the season. The Crimson Tide has been rolling, winners of six straight games, including the last four over ranked SEC foes.
South Carolina's 3-4 record makes this an obvious trap game situation for Kalen DeBoer and his team. Alabama fans have painful memories of the team's performance in similar spots last season. The 2024 team failed to handle prosperity, losing road games to .500 teams in Vanderbilt and Oklahoma.
This matchup against the Gamecocks will be the ultimate test of maturity for this team, and the ultimate test of whether things have fully clicked for DeBoer in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is the better team and should win the game, but that has been the case ahead of multiple losses for the Crimson Tide over the last 12 months.
South Carolina is desperate for a big win. Alabama better show up to Columbia ready for a fist fight.
Betting Odds for Alabama vs. South Carolina
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 6am ET on Saturday.
Spread: Alabama -11.5
Over/Under: 47.5
Moneyline: Alabama -420/South Carolina +330
Predictions from the Bama Hammer Team
As much as South Carolina has struggled this season, it's important to understand that this is still a talented roster that many predicted would be a College Football Playoff team in 2025. They also have one of the nation's top dual-threat QBs in LaNorris Sellers, and his legs are likely to give Alabama's defense fits.
It will be imperative that the Tide's defense remains disciplined in its run fits to avoid the explosive plays on the ground that have plagued them.
Offensively, Alabama will need another week of Ty Simpson playing like the best QB in the country. With the ground game continuing to struggle, Simpson has had to shoulder a heavy burden. Even with freshman Lotzeir Brooks expected to miss the game, Alabama has plenty of skill position talent that will make life tough on South Carolina's secondary.
It's a clean sweep with the entire Bama Hammer team picking Alabama to win, though some think it will be closer than others.
Picks:
John Mitchell: Alabama 31, South Carolina 17
Josh Yourish: Alabama 24, South Carolina 10
Ron Evans: Alabama 31, South Carolina 17
Greg Bosworth: Alabama 35, South Carolina 17
Dominic Giacobazzi: Alabama 30, South Carolina 28