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Week 9: College football odds, NCAA football odds, College football betting lines

Gamblers show little faith in Carolina's ability to grab an upset victory in Auburn.

Jerrell Adams and the Gamecocks look to flex their muscles against Auburn.
Jerrell Adams and the Gamecocks look to flex their muscles against Auburn.
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina travels to Auburn on Saturday as significant underdogs, with the opening lines placing Auburn as two-touchdown favorites to beat Carolina.  The Gamecocks have not beaten Auburn since joining the SEC in 1992.

Auburn's run-heavy offense presents particular difficulties for a Gamecock defense that struggles mightily against the run (though to be fair, it's not particularly great against the pass, either).  South Carolina bleeds over 180 yards a game and over five yards a carry to opponents so far this season, which includes 211 yards on 39 carries (5.4 yards an attempt) to Furman on Saturday.

Auburn enters the game ranked in the top five with the only blemish on their resume a loss in Starkville to the top-ranked Bulldogs of Mississippi State.  Former defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson matches up with Steve Spurrier for the first time in their careers since Johnson left Carolina, first for a one-year stop at Southern Mississippi, and then to head to Auburn.  His replacement, Lorenzo Ward, has been criticized this season for the poor play of Carolina's defense.

The Gamecocks and Tigers kick off at 7:30pm on the SEC Network.