No. 24 Kentucky at South Carolina 2026 Preview: Prediction, Betting Odds & 4 Prop Bets

No. 24 Kentucky heads to Columbia on Saturday afternoon for an important SEC road matchup against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Kentucky enters 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC after consecutive victories over Texas A&M and South Alabama. South Carolina is 2-2 and 0-2 in conference play following a 49-18 loss at No. 8 Alabama. Kentucky moved into the latest AP Top 25 at No. 24.

South Carolina enters as a slight 2.5-point home favorite, setting up what could be one of the weekend’s tighter SEC matchups.

Game Information

Matchup: No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026 Kickoff: 4:15 PM ET TV: SEC Network Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium — Columbia, South Carolina Tickets: As low as $48 Point Spread: South Carolina -2.5 Over/Under: 53.5

Kentucky’s official schedule confirms the 4:15 PM ET kickoff on SEC Network. South Carolina won last season’s meeting 35-13 and leads the football series 22-13-1.

Kentucky: Ground Game Gives Wildcats Momentum

Kentucky has responded impressively since its 45-17 loss to Alabama.

The Wildcats went on the road and defeated then-No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21 before exploding for 567 total yards in a 45-21 victory over South Alabama.

Kentucky’s rushing attack was dominant against South Alabama.

C.J. Baxter rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown, Jason Patterson added 137 yards and three scores, and Jovantae Barnes finished with 100 yards and a touchdown. Kentucky totaled 376 rushing yards and five rushing scores.

Quarterback Kenny Minchey provides balance. He threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the Texas A&M victory before completing 19 of 25 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown against South Alabama.

If Kentucky can establish its rushing attack again, the Wildcats can control possession and limit South Carolina’s opportunities.

South Carolina: Sellers Remains the Key

South Carolina’s 2-2 record includes consecutive SEC losses, but the Gamecocks still possess one of the conference’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks.

LaNorris Sellers has thrown for 833 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 244 rushing yards through four games. Against Alabama, he threw for 185 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 72 yards.

Running back Matt Fuller has also emerged as an important weapon.

Fuller has rushed for 384 yards and four touchdowns, including 112 yards and a score against Alabama.

South Carolina actually produced 419 yards of offense against Alabama but hurt itself with turnovers, missed scoring opportunities and explosive plays allowed defensively.

Cleaning up those mistakes will be critical against Kentucky.

Four Prop Bets to Consider

College player props vary by sportsbook, so these are target numbers to consider if offered near these ranges.

Prop Bet #1: C.J. Baxter Over 74.5 Rushing Yards

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Baxter Over 74.5 Rushing Yards

• 149 Yards Last Game
• 313 Yards This Season
• Kentucky Ground Game Surging

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Baxter is coming off his best game as a Wildcat, rushing for 149 yards on only 16 carries.

He also scored twice against Texas A&M, showing his importance in Kentucky’s red-zone offense.

Kentucky should continue leaning on its powerful running game in a hostile road environment.

Prediction: C.J. Baxter — 86 rushing yards

Prop Bet #2: LaNorris Sellers Over 49.5 Rushing Yards

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Sellers Over 49.5 Rushing Yards

• 72 Yards vs Alabama
• 244 Rush Yards This Season
• Dual-Threat QB

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Sellers remains extremely dangerous when plays break down.

He rushed 13 times for 72 yards against Alabama and has already produced 244 rushing yards this season.

Kentucky’s pass rush could force Sellers out of the pocket, creating additional rushing opportunities.

Prediction: LaNorris Sellers — 61 rushing yards

Prop Bet #3: Matt Fuller Over 74.5 Rushing Yards

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Fuller Over 74.5 Rushing Yards

• 112 Yards vs Alabama
• 384 Yards This Season
• 6.7 Yards Per Carry

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Fuller has established himself as South Carolina’s primary rushing threat.

He averaged nearly six yards per carry against Alabama and has 384 yards through four games.

The Gamecocks need him to take pressure off Sellers and keep Kentucky from attacking aggressively on passing downs.

Prediction: Matt Fuller — 82 rushing yards

Prop Bet #4: Kenny Minchey Over 199.5 Passing Yards

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Minchey Over 199.5 Passing Yards

• 252 Yards vs Texas A&M
• Efficient Passing Attack
• Run Game Creates Play Action

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Minchey only needed 177 passing yards against South Alabama because Kentucky rushed for 376.

This matchup should require more from him.

South Carolina will likely commit additional defenders toward stopping Baxter, Patterson and Barnes, potentially opening opportunities for Minchey through play action.

Prediction: Kenny Minchey — 218 passing yards

Players to Watch

C.J. Baxter — Kentucky

Baxter gives Kentucky a physical lead runner who can wear down a defense. Another productive afternoon would make life considerably easier for Minchey.

Kenny Minchey — Kentucky

Minchey has shown he can win on the road after his efficient performance at Texas A&M. Protecting the football will be critical.

LaNorris Sellers — South Carolina

Sellers’ mobility makes him the biggest challenge for Kentucky’s defense. The Wildcats must keep him contained rather than allowing broken plays to become first downs.

Matt Fuller — South Carolina

Fuller gives the Gamecocks the rushing balance they need. His 112-yard performance at Alabama proved he can produce against quality defensive fronts.

Keys to the Game

Kentucky needs to establish the run, protect Minchey and avoid allowing Sellers to create explosive plays outside the pocket.

South Carolina must finish drives. The Gamecocks moved the football against Alabama but failed to capitalize on early scoring opportunities before falling behind.

Turnovers could be decisive in what projects as a close matchup.

Betting Prediction

South Carolina’s home-field advantage explains why the Gamecocks are slight favorites, but Kentucky enters with considerably more momentum.

The Wildcats have beaten Texas A&M on the road and are coming off a 567-yard offensive performance.

South Carolina has enough offensive talent to make this competitive, particularly with Sellers and Fuller, but its defensive problems against Alabama are concerning.

Kentucky’s rushing depth could become the difference late.

The Verdict

Expect a physical SEC matchup that remains within one possession entering the fourth quarter.

South Carolina creates problems with Sellers’ mobility, but Kentucky’s balanced offense and deep stable of running backs eventually wear down the Gamecocks.

Final Score Prediction

Kentucky 28, South Carolina 24

Betting Category Pick Best Bet C.J. Baxter Over 74.5 Rushing Yards Against the Spread Kentucky +2.5 Moneyline Kentucky Over/Under Under 53.5 Top Prop LaNorris Sellers Over 49.5 Rushing Yards

Final Prediction: Kentucky 28, South Carolina 24

Kentucky earns another SEC road victory, covers as a 2.5-point underdog and keeps the game narrowly under the 53.5-point total.