Alabama has one more test to pass before the much-needed second bye week of the season. After reeling off six straight wins, the last four of which have come against ranked SEC opponents, the Crimson Tide will travel to the other Columbia this weekend to take on South Carolina.
You've heard plenty by now about this being a potential trap game. This is the exact type of game that Alabama has struggled with during Kalen DeBoer's short tenure. Riding high, Alabama suffered surprising - and ultimately devastating - losses last year to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, two teams that went 6-6 in the regular season.
Despite preseason expectations, Shane Beamer's Gamecocks certainly look to be headed toward a similar finish as the 'Dores and Sooners from a year ago. A win over Alabama this weekend would be just what the doctor ordered for a reeling South Carolina team.
If Alabama gets caught looking ahead to the bye week - or LSU and Oklahoma awaiting on the other side - then this could turn into another one of those upset losses that made Tide fans want to yank their hair out a year ago.
We'd all like to believe that DeBoer and this team have flipped the page. But even after six straight wins, it's hard to erase last year's memories, or how the Crimson Tide looked in the season-opening loss to Florida State just eight weeks ago.
This will be the ultimate test of this team's maturation and whether or not DeBoer has truly figured out what it takes to be the head coach in Tuscaloosa.
How to watch No. 4 Alabama at South Carolina in Week
- Date: Saturday, October 25th
- Time: 2:30 pm C.T.
- Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium
- How to Watch (TV): ABC
- Streaming: fubo TV
- Alabama record: 6-1
- South Carolina record: 3-4
What are the betting odds for Alabama vs. South Carolina?
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread: Alabama -12.5
Over/Under: 47.5
Moneyline: Alabama -520/South Carolina +385
Injury reports for Alabama and South Carolina
Alabama:
- LB Qua Russaw: OUT
- LB Jah-Marien Latham: OUT
- DL Jeremiah Beaman: OUT
- LB Cayden Jones: OUT
- WR Derek Meadows: Questionable
- TE Danny Lewis Jr.: Questionable
South Carolina:
TBD and will be updated when the SEC's availability reports are released on Wednesday evening.
Who are the announcers for Alabama vs. South Carolina?
For the third time this season, Alabama fans will have Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst), and Katie George (sideline reporter) on the call. Most recently, the trio called Alabama's road win over Missouri. Previously, they were on the call during Alabama's season opener against Florida State.
What will the weather be like for Alabama football on Saturday?
It's shaping up to be a beautiful fall Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina. Temperatures should be in the low-to-mid 70s and could dip into the high 60s in the fourth quarter. There's currently not expected to be much of a chance of rain.
Alabama vs. South Carolina series history
This will be just the 17th all-time meeting between Alabama and South Carolina. The Crimson Tide holds a 13-3 edge in the series heading into this weekend's matchup in Columbia. The two teams faced off last season in Tuscaloosa, with Alabama holding on to a narrow 27-25 win over the Gamecocks.
This will be the first trip to Williams-Brice for the Crimson Tide since 2019. Alabama won the last meeting there 47-23. Crimson Tide fans will undoubtedly better remember the meeting 15 years ago in Columbia, when No. 1 Alabama was ambushed by South Carolina in 2010.