South Carolina vs. Texas A&M betting odds, preview, prediction

The Texas A&M Aggies will enter the post-Johnny Manziel era as 10.5-point underdogs when they kick off their 2014 season on the road against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Aggies finished the 2013 season with a 9-4 overall record, 4-4 against SEC opponents, and start the new season at No. 21 in the preseason rankings.

Pegged as 40/1 longshots to claim the SEC title, the Aggies are distant 75/1 longshots to win their first national championship in 75 years. They were also 0-4 ATS on the road last year and face a team riding a 16-game home win streak.

Stepping in as starting quarterback for the Aggies against the Gamecocks is sophomore Kenny Hill, who saw limited action as Manziel’s backup last season, throwing for 183 yards and one touchdown over four games.

Hill’s early emergence as the starter comes as somewhat of a surprise. True freshman Kyle Allen, pegged as a 100/1 long shot to win the Heisman Trophy this season, was expected to lead the Aggies’ offense, but was edged out by Hill in camp.

After finishing last season with six straight wins and an 11-2 record, 6-2 against SEC opponents, South Carolina sports a regular season wins betting line of 9.5, with -115 moneyline odds attached to both the OVER and UNDER.

The Gamecocks are also positioned as a favorite to win the SEC East with odds of 8/5, close on the heels of the Georgia Bulldogs, who sit atop the SEC East betting odds at 3/2. However, both the Gamecocks and Bulldogs trail perennial favorites Alabama and Auburn, with odds of 6/5 and 9/2 respectively, to win the SEC title.

Odds Shark Computer Prediction: 43-41 South Carolina