Tennessee vs. South Carolina Prediction, CFB Week 8 Odds & Best Bets (10/24)

Fact checked at 7:11 AM ET, Oct 24, 2026

Odds as of 7:10 AM ET, Oct 24, 2026

No. 11 Tennessee (6-1) comes to Columbia a week after beating Alabama 26-10 and is still the underdog. The Volunteers opened as favorites on Oct 14, and the line flipped to South Carolina early this week. South Carolina (3-3) is rested after a bye that followed its 38-19 win at Florida. Kickoff is Saturday at 3:30 PM ET at Williams-Brice Stadium, with a sunny forecast around 70 degrees and a light northeast wind.

Tennessee's defense sets the terms here. The Volunteers have allowed 14.7 points a game and 20 or fewer in five straight, and each of their last four games finished with 41 or fewer total points. Both teams lean on the run. South Carolina leads the SEC at 232.3 rushing yards a game and Tennessee is second at 217.1, though both figures include an FCS opponent. Tennessee hasn't named a starting quarterback, and George MacIntyre is expected to make his third straight start. Expect a run-heavy, low-scoring game where South Carolina's points come on the ground through its lead back.

Tennessee vs. South Carolina Predictions

• Pick #1: Matt Fuller Anytime Touchdown (-140)
• Pick #2: Under 50.5 Total Points (-110)

PICK #1: Matt Fuller Anytime Touchdown (-140)

Fuller has scored in four of his five games against FBS opponents, and -140 implies a 58.3% chance he finds the end zone.

He ran for a touchdown against Kent State, scored twice against Mississippi State (once rushing, once receiving) and added one each at Alabama and against Kentucky. On the season he has 81 carries for 485 yards and five rushing touchdowns, plus that receiving score, and he had seven catches for 85 yards against Mississippi State and five more at Alabama. Tennessee's defense has been stingy, but SEC teams have still run it in: Texas scored twice on the ground, and Auburn, Arkansas and Alabama each scored once. Alabama managed that while finishing with 54 rushing yards and 10 points. Backup Jawarn Howell is doubtful on Friday night's SEC availability report, so there is one fewer back to share carries near the goal line. Fuller is not on the report.

Florida is the worry. He had 10 carries and no touchdown there while LaNorris Sellers threw four touchdown passes, and Sellers and Jabree Coleman have both run for scores this season, so Fuller won't get every goal-line chance.

PICK #2: Under 50.5 Total Points (-110)

At -110 the Under carries a 52.4% implied probability. Tennessee has allowed 9, 24, 9, 20, 14, 17 and 10 points this season, and its four SEC games finished with 37, 38, 41 and 36 total points. The Volunteers haven't scored more than 26 in any of those SEC games, and their quarterback job still isn't settled.

Both offenses want to run, and that keeps the clock moving. Tennessee ran 41 times against Alabama and 49 against Auburn. South Carolina's run defense has held FBS opponents to 3.7 yards a carry, with no FBS team topping 135 rushing yards. On the other side, only one of the six FBS quarterbacks Tennessee has faced ran for 50 yards.

South Carolina's scoring history works against this. All five of its games against FBS opponents went over 50 points, including a 75-point loss to Mississippi State and a 69-point overtime loss to Kentucky. None of those defenses has played like Tennessee's.

Both picks need the same afternoon: a slow, physical game where South Carolina's points come on short rushing drives, which is where Fuller scores.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.