The South Carolina State Bulldogs take on the Florida A&M Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
South Carolina State enters as a -18.5 favorite on the spread with a moneyline of -1000. Florida A&M, meanwhile, comes in as a +18.5 underdog and is +560 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 56.5 total points.
Here’s my South Carolina State vs Florida A&M prediction and college football picks for Sunday, September 6
South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Prediction
- South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Pick: South Carolina State -19.5
My South Carolina State vs Florida A&M best bet is on the Bulldogs to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Odds
| South Carolina State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-18.5 -113 | 56.5 -113o / -113u | -1000 |
| Florida A&M Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+18.5 -113 | 56.5 -113o / -113u | +560 |
- South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Spread: South Carolina State -18.5, Florida A&M +18.5
- South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Over/Under: 56.5 Total Points
- South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Moneyline: South Carolina State -1000, Florida A&M +560
South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Preview
South Carolina State Bulldogs Betting Preview: Starting On a High Note
South Carolina State did exactly what you should do when playing a lower-division foe in Week 0, with a complete thrashing of Savannah State by a final score of 87-0.
The ground game was explosive and consistent, as the Bulldogs ran for 9.2 yards per carry with seven rushing touchdowns and 423 rushing yards.
The pass game was serviceable, with Ronnie Robinson and Keely Watson both throwing passes.
South Carolina State is the best team in the MEAC by a wide margin, and head coach Chennis Berry will continue to build on the success of his first two seasons.
SC State returns three offensive linemen. The hogs up front have size and quickness and will morph into the best offensive line in the MEAC.
Defensively, the linebacker room is in great shape with Zanjerry Dunham, Roderick Kelly and Jordan Franklin, who were all over the field last year.
Sharmari Reed is back at safety, and three FCS transfers look to fill the gaps left behind by graduation. The secondary has depth and played really well in the opener. This defense is a strong unit.
Florida A&M Rattlers Betting Preview: A Tough Start
FAMU was also playing a D-II school, and it didn't look nearly as good, as the Rattlers led Albany State, 7-0, at the half before pulling away in the 20-7 win.
The offense gained 15 yards or less on five of its first six first-half drives, and it was very concerning how ineffective the rushing attack was.
FAMU had just 70 rushing yards on 32 attempts and didn't register an explosive rush.
Situational execution in the red zone and on third down was bad, and this offense, which was seeking to reload around transfer quarterback Isaiah Knowles, is left searching for answers.
The defense played OK and the defensive front got some pressure, but it's going to be facing a much different animal this Sunday.
The secondary was in good position, but Albany State missed some wide-open receivers deep, which would have changed the dynamic of the game last week if it had connected.
South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Pick, Betting Analysis
This line opened with SC State listed as a 19.5-point favorite with a total set at 56.5. I'm going to lay the number with the Bulldogs.
I went back and watched the film, and I have significant concerns about this Florida A&M offense. The offensive line generated zero push against an undersized Albany State defensive front, and in a pressure situation in the second quarter, could not score with first-and-goal from the five-yard line.
The passing game was disjointed, with Knowles missing several easier throws that would have extended drives. He also held onto the ball far too long, which resulted in three sacks.
The offense isn't going to move the ball very effectively, and trips inside the red zone will be a struggle.
Tyler Smith and Mason Pickett-Hicks showed a decent amount of wiggle in space, and the explosive burst was evident. Watson threw beautiful passes, and the execution for South Carolina State looked very sharp.
Robinson rotated at quarterback, and the running element he adds could be game-changing here.
SC State is the better team. The offense is equipped with playmakers all throughout the skill-position rooms.
This team is seasoned, experienced, and should score a ton of points on Sunday afternoon.
Pick: South Carolina State -19.5
South Carolina State vs Florida A&M Betting Trends
