Tennessee vs South Carolina Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 24 2026
Tennessee just beat Alabama 26-10, and now the Volunteers have to go to Columbia and try not to give that win right back. You know how this goes. Everybody spends a week telling you how good you are, then you walk into somebody else’s stadium and get punched in the mouth. South Carolina would love nothing more.
The Volunteers visit Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 PM ET. Tennessee is favored by 2.5 points, and the total is around 50.5. The early weather outlook is dry, with temperatures in the upper 60s and wind near 10 mph. Gusts still need checking. It’s an interesting spot for Tennessee, coming off one of its biggest wins of the season. Check out our free college football picks for more predictions.
Tennessee’s Defense Is Getting Mean
Tennessee is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in SEC play. The Volunteers have won three straight, including a 24-17 win at Arkansas and Saturday’s 26-10 victory over Alabama. They led the Crimson Tide from start to finish. That’s not something you see every year. Tennessee held Alabama scoreless in the second half and didn’t let the Tide get much going all afternoon. Now comes another road game. The Volunteers are 2-0 away from Knoxville, so they’ve shown they can handle themselves outside Neyland Stadium.
Alabama finished with 201 yards against Tennessee. Fifty-four rushing, 147 passing. That’s it. The Volunteers recorded five sacks, picked off two passes, and held Alabama to two conversions on 13 third downs. You can win plenty of games playing defense like that. Tennessee’s offense hasn’t always been explosive, but it hasn’t needed to be. The Volunteers are averaging 33.4 points while allowing 14.7, and they’re rushing for about 217 yards per game. South Carolina can score, though. The Gamecocks have been averaging 37.7, so Tennessee can’t count on another afternoon where 20 points is enough.
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DeSean Bishop was the guy against Alabama. Thirty-two carries, 159 yards, two touchdowns. Tennessee kept giving him the football, and Alabama couldn’t do much about it. Bishop has 837 rushing yards and ten touchdowns this season. George MacIntyre threw for 197 yards against the Tide, while Mike Matthews caught seven passes for 85. The Volunteers have enough passing talent to make defenses respect it, but right now the running game is doing the heavy lifting. Tennessee needs to protect the ball and avoid the kind of mistakes that can turn a road game sideways.
South Carolina Has To Stop The Run
South Carolina is 3-3, and the Gamecocks have been difficult to figure out. They’ve scored plenty of points, but the defense has been giving too much back. South Carolina is 2-2 at home, and this is the kind of game where Williams-Brice can make a difference. Tennessee is coming in after beating Alabama, and the Gamecocks know a win here would change the way people look at their season. They’re not going to be short on motivation.
The Gamecocks are averaging 37.7 points and 474.7 yards per game. That’s more offense than Tennessee has been producing. They’re throwing for about 242 yards and running for another 232. The trouble is on defense, where South Carolina is allowing 25.5 points and 340.8 yards per game. Tennessee just ran the football effectively against Alabama, and Bishop is going to get plenty of chances Saturday. South Carolina needs to tackle better and keep Tennessee from staying ahead of the chains. If the Volunteers are getting five yards on first down, this could be a long afternoon.
LaNorris Sellers has thrown for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he’s the guy Tennessee has to account for. He’s dangerous when he leaves the pocket, and the Gamecocks have been able to move the football because defenses can’t just sit back and defend the pass. Matthew Fuller leads the rushing attack with 485 yards and five touchdowns. Nyck Harbor has 278 receiving yards, while Donovan Murph has three touchdown catches. There’s enough talent here to make Tennessee work. But Sellers can’t spend the whole game running for his life. South Carolina needs to give him some time and keep the turnovers down.
Tennessee vs South Carolina Picks and Predictions
Tennessee -2.5 (-110)
I’m laying the 2.5 with Tennessee. South Carolina has the offense to make this uncomfortable, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Gamecocks hit a couple of big plays early. But Tennessee’s defense just made Alabama look ordinary. Five sacks, two interceptions, and only 201 yards allowed. That’s hard to ignore. The Volunteers also have a running back who’s been carrying the football like he means it. South Carolina is going to score more than Alabama did, I think, but the Gamecocks haven’t been stopping opponents consistently enough for me to trust them here. Give me Tennessee by a touchdown.
Under 50.5 Points (-110)
I’m going under 50.5. South Carolina has been scoring a bunch, and that makes this a little uncomfortable. But Tennessee’s defense is the best unit in this matchup, and I think the Volunteers are going to lean on Bishop and try to keep Sellers watching from the sideline. Tennessee held Alabama to ten points and Arkansas to 17. The Gamecocks are capable of scoring 30, but they’ll have to work for it against this defense. The danger is Sellers breaking a couple of long plays or Tennessee getting short fields off turnovers. Still, I think the Volunteers control the pace. Something around 27-20 works for me.
Final Picks: Tennessee -2.5 (-110) and Under 50.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 18, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and weather forecasts may change before kickoff.
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