Texas A&M Aggies A Two-Touchdown Favorite Against South Carolina

The Aggies return home a favorite to win against a struggling South Carolina roster.

It's been a rocky road for the Texas A&M Aggies entering October, but that hasn't stopped Vegas thinking Week 9 is where things turn around for the better. 

The Aggies (4-3, 2-2 SEC) opened Saturday's 11 a.m. kick against South Carolina as an 11.5-point favorite. Since then, the line has jumped to 14 with the matchup being at Kyle Field.

One can't count out the Gamecocks (2-5, 1-3 SEC) under third-year coach Shane Beamer. A rocky September often leads to a promising — as they call it Columbia — "Cocktober," leading to a bowl bid and few upsets. 

But South Carolina's struggles on the road are evident this season. The Gamecocks are 0-3 when playing away from Williams Brice Stadium and recently fell victim to red-hot SEC East sleeper Missouri, 34-12, at Farout Field. 

The Aggies, who currently are on an eight-game road losing streak under Jimbo Fisher, know the feeling far too well. 

A&M actually has dominated South Carolina in the Battle for the Bonham Trophy since the "rivalry" started in 2014. The Aggies rattled off eight straight victories before falling 30-24 last season away from College Station. 

South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) is tackled by Missouri Tigers linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper (8) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The win marked a turning point in Year 2 of the Beamer era. South Carolina picked up three more wins, including two top-10 upsets over Tennessee and Clemson to finish the season 8-4. Meanwhile, the Aggies continued to flop, finishing the year 5-7 and out of bowl contention. 

Anything can happen come Saturday, but South Carolina's defensive woes are evident. Opponents are averaging 31.7 points per game, including the last four teams finishing at least 30 points. 

For the Aggies, this could be a blessing in disguise after close calls versus Alabama and Tennessee. In both games, A&M never found its footing in the second half. Play-calling did little to help.

While South Carolina is going through its fair share of struggles, this could be just what the doctor ordered for a quick turnaround. Then again, the Aggies are looking for similar results to the last time the Gamecocks came to town.

In 2021 at Kyle Field, A&M was a three-touchdown favorite over the Gamecocks, who were down to graduate assistant Zeb Noland at quarterback, alongside junior transfer Jason Brown. The Aggies jumped out to a 31-0 lead at halftime before letting their foot off the gas en route to a 44-14 win. 

This season, A&M is 2-0 during 11 a.m. kicks, with both victories coming against SEC opponents.