Preview: North Carolina State vs South Carolina - August 28, 2008

College football gets underway with a full board this week and directly out of the gate is a very nice Thursday card. Our well earned Vegas strip reputation as ‘The College Football Gurus’ has the sportsbooks dreading our excitement but players from coast to coast giddy with future profit pleasure and the wait is over as it starts with a bang on Thursday!

Turn your attention to the North Carolina State Wolfpack traveling to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. A lot of personnel has changed since last season for NC State and head coach Tom O’Brien. Most notably the starting quarterback as last year’s starter, Daniel Evans, now comes off the bench in favor of the new starter, red-shirt freshman Russell Wilson. Wilson will face a very tough defense in a hostile environment in his first college football experience and with a depleted receiving corp. due to graduation and early injuries. Controlling the clock will be the plan with running back’s Jamelle Eugune and Andre Brown.
The Gamecocks were ranked as high as #6 in the nation last year before the dreadful finish of five straight losses that kept them out of a bowl game. Head coach Steve Spurrier also has a new quarterback this season, red-shirt junior Tommy Beecher. Beecher has fantastic decision making skills and at 6′2″ 220 lbs., has the size to hang in the pocket allowing the many offensive weapons (particularly WR-Kenny McKinley) on this squad to develop plays. All that being said, like with many teams the defense will be the key. A major reason for the horrible finish was a weakness against the run with losing Jasper Brinkley to injury. After a medical red-shirt, the 6′2″ 269 pound Brinkley is ready to regain his 2006 all-SEC form.
Vegas has South Carolina favored over North Carolina State, by anywhere from 11 to 14 points. They are all a gift as the Steve Spurrier offense puts a big number on the board and the Gamecock defense shuts down and quite possibly shuts out the Wolfpack. That’s Your Free Selection form Lee Stevens of Easy Money Sports, South Carolina -14 over North Carolina State. Also, make sure to check his website daily for the Best Winning Information available anywhere, especially with his specialty, the college football!