Missouri Tigers vs South Carolina Gamecocks Picks and Predictions September 20th 2025

Missouri Tigers vs South Carolina Gamecocks September 20th 2025

Week 4 of the 2025 college football season brings a night game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Missouri Tigers. The game will be held at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. Fans can catch the action on ESPN this Saturday, September 20, at 7:00 PM ET.

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The Gamecocks, ranked #24 in the Coaches Poll, come into this game with a 2-1 record. They have a strong road record, having won their only away game this season. On the other side, the Tigers hold a perfect 3-0 record and are ranked #23 in the AP Poll. They have been dominant at home, winning all three of their games at Faurot Field.

South Carolina vs Missouri CFB Key Information

• Sport: College Football
• Teams: South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Missouri Tigers
• Venue: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, MO
• Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
• Betting Odds: South Carolina Moneyline +332, Missouri Moneyline -431, South Carolina Spread +11.5 (-110), Missouri Spread -11.5 (-110), Total Over/Under 47.5 (-110)

No. 23 Missouri hosts South Carolina in SEC opener

The Missouri Tigers look to continue their unbeaten start as they welcome the South Carolina Gamecocks to Faurot Field on Saturday night. Missouri (3-0) enters ranked No. 23 after a 52-10 dismantling of Louisiana-Lafayette, powered by Ahmad Hardy’s explosive running. South Carolina (2-1) comes in reeling from a 31-7 loss to Vanderbilt and faces quarterback uncertainty with LaNorris Sellers’ status in question. For bettors, this SEC clash offers value on both the spread and total when weighing college football picks.

Betting Odds and Trends

The South Carolina Gamecocks Can Win If…

The South Carolina Gamecocks will need their defense to set the tone. Despite last week’s loss, the unit remains one of the SEC’s most opportunistic, ranking 7th nationally in sacks and top five in both interceptions and fumbles recovered. Generating turnovers and short fields will be their best path to slowing Missouri’s high-powered offense.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers showed promise before his injury against Vanderbilt, throwing for 242 yards and moving the offense effectively. If Sellers can go, he provides mobility and arm talent that stretches defenses. If he’s sidelined, Luke Doty must manage the game carefully and avoid turnovers.

South Carolina also needs contributions from skill players. Running back Rahsul Faison (135 yards, 1 TD) and wide receiver Nyck Harbor (165 yards, 1 TD) provide balance, while Vicari Swain is a weapon on special teams with three punt return touchdowns already. If Swain flips field position, the Gamecocks can hang around.

The Missouri Tigers Can Win If…

The Missouri Tigers will lean on star running back Ahmad Hardy, who ranks second in the nation with 462 rushing yards. Hardy exploded for 250 yards and three touchdowns against Louisiana-Lafayette, showing he can carry the offense. If he finds success early, Missouri can dictate tempo and wear down South Carolina’s defense.

Quarterback Beau Pribula has been efficient, completing over 76% of his passes for 791 yards, seven touchdowns, and just one interception. His ability to complement Hardy with accurate throws makes Missouri’s offense difficult to defend. The Tigers also rank 3rd nationally in interceptions, giving their defense the ability to swing momentum.

Home-field advantage at Faurot Field adds another layer. Missouri has scored 155 points through three games, ranking sixth nationally. If the Tigers protect Pribula and Hardy continues his dominance, Missouri has the tools to control the game and cover the spread.

The Lean

Missouri enters as an 11.5-point favorite, and their explosive offense combined with South Carolina’s quarterback uncertainty points toward the Tigers covering. A projected final score of 35-17 supports Missouri -11.5.

The total sits at 47.5, and both teams have leaned toward high-scoring outcomes recently. With Missouri averaging over 50 points per game and South Carolina still capable of generating turnovers and short-field opportunities, the over is the stronger play. A projection of 52 points supports this lean.

Game Preview Recap

Missouri has surged into the AP Top 25 behind Hardy’s breakout. The sophomore back has topped 100 rushing yards in every game and is already positioning himself as one of the SEC’s top offensive players. Pribula, a Penn State transfer, has been steady, adding three rushing scores to his seven passing touchdowns.

South Carolina enters shorthanded, with Sellers questionable after a head injury. Doty is a capable backup but lacks the explosiveness Sellers provides. Coach Shane Beamer has highlighted Vicari Swain’s electric special teams play, which could be a difference-maker in flipping momentum.

This is the first SEC game for both teams, and Missouri wants to prove it belongs among the league’s top-tier squads. South Carolina, meanwhile, needs a statement performance after a disappointing showing against Vanderbilt.

The all-time series favors Missouri, 9-6, but South Carolina ended a five-game skid with a 34-30 win last year. Saturday’s meeting should feature plenty of intensity as both teams look to establish themselves early in conference play.

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