South Carolina at Illinois - 2024 Matchup Preview

South Carolina Gamecocks vs Illinois Fighting Illini

Tuesday, December 31st 2024 (3:00 PM EST)
South Carolina -9.5 (50.0) (-355) Open: 0.0
Illinois 21 - South Carolina: 17 (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl)

Gamecocks (9 - 4) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach Shane Beamer (20 - 18)
Avg Score : 23 - 22 (19 - 28 on Road)
Record Prediction: 9 - 4 (#28)
'24 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Bowl Game Opt Outs
Our Line: South Carolina -8.5 (SP+ SC -7.5)
Projected Score: SC: 29 - ILL: 20 (49)
SC Win prob: 79% | Cover: 55%
SC Travel: 376 miles

Fighting Illini (10 - 3) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach Bret Bielema (18 - 19)
Avg Score : 29 - 24 (31 - 14 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 10 - 3 (#17)
'24 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
Bowls
SC Players
ILL Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

South Carolina's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/31	South Carolina vs Old Dominion	-20.5	49.5	W 23 - 19	U	N
Sat 9/7	South Carolina at Kentucky	+9.5	41.5	W 31 - 6	U	Y
Sat 9/14	South Carolina vs LSU	+7.0	50.0	L 33 - 36	O	Y
Sat 9/21	South Carolina vs Akron	-25.0	42.0	W 50 - 7	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/5	South Carolina vs Ole Miss	+10.0	53.0	L 3 - 27	U	N
Sat 10/12	South Carolina at Alabama	+21.0	50.0	L 25 - 27	O	Y
Sat 10/19	South Carolina at Oklahoma	-1.0	40.5	W 35 - 9	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 11/2	South Carolina vs Texas A&M	+3.0	43.5	W 44 - 20	O	Y
Sat 11/9	South Carolina at Vanderbilt	-6.0	44.5	W 28 - 7	U	Y
Sat 11/16	South Carolina vs Missouri	-10.5	42.5	W 34 - 30	O	N
Sat 11/23	South Carolina vs Wofford	-42.5	49.5	W 56 - 12	O	Y
Sat 11/30	South Carolina at Clemson	+2.5	48.5	W 17 - 14	U	Y
Tue 12/31	South Carolina vs Illinois	-9.5	50.0	L 17 - 21	U	N

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for South Carolina's Schedule

Illinois's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/29	Illinois vs Eastern Illinois	-28.5	50.5	W 45 - 0	U	Y
Sat 9/7	Illinois vs Kansas	+4.5	58.5	W 23 - 17	U	Y
Sat 9/14	Illinois vs Central Michigan	-21.5	49.5	W 30 - 9	U	N
Fri 9/20	Illinois at Nebraska	+9.5	41.5	W 31 - 24	O	Y
Sat 9/28	Illinois at Penn State	+19.5	48.0	L 7 - 21	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/12	Illinois vs Purdue	-22.5	47.5	W 50 - 49	O	N
Sat 10/19	Illinois vs Michigan	+6.0	44.0	W 21 - 7	U	Y
Sat 10/26	Illinois at Oregon	+22.5	54.0	L 9 - 38	U	N
Sat 11/2	Illinois vs Minnesota	+2.5	47.0	L 17 - 25	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 11/16	Illinois vs Michigan State	-2.0	47.5	W 38 - 16	O	Y
Sat 11/23	Illinois at Rutgers	+2.0	48.0	W 38 - 31	O	Y
Sat 11/30	Illinois vs Northwestern	-8.5	42.5	W 38 - 28	O	Y
Tue 12/31	Illinois vs South Carolina	+9.5	50.0	W 21 - 17	U	Y

Important Stats (2023)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
SC	#67 (.2)	41% (86)	22.7	38% (120)	2.81 (117)	85	43% (54)	278	4.06 (51)	#80 (.2)	44% (92)	22.1	46% (97)	43% (85)	3.42 (36)	55.1	1.1	1.4
ILL	#66 (.2)	45% (30)	29.4	44% (56)	3.31 (32)	125	48% (14)	266	3.9 (71)	#85 (.2)	44% (102)	23.6	45% (87)	45% (110)	4.09 (96)	62.4	1.9	1.3

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
SC		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
ILL		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2023

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
SC Offense	12	22.7	18.5	40.8%	4.06	1.1	18	363	85	278	2.8	41%	58%	38%	43%	20%	.2
ILL Defense	12	23.6	14.4	44.4%	4.09	1.3	-	-	-	-	-	51%	49%	45%	45%	15%	.2

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
SC Defense	12	22.1	27.5	43.8%	3.42	1.4	-	-	-	-	-	50%	49%	46%	43%	16%	.2
ILL Offense	12	29.4	31.3	45.5%	3.9	1.9	20	391	125	266	3.8	45%	53%	44%	48%	20%	.2

Additional Stats 2023

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
South Carolina	12	28:17	18.1	34%	38%	7.1	55.1	1.1	1.4	4.6	1.8	2	30.7
Illinois	12	28:24	20.3	37%	54%	6.6	62.4	1.9	1.3	4.8	1.9	2	26

Run Game Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
SC Offense	12	41% (122)	38% (120)	30.8	85.1	2.8	17 (81)	.03 (122)	2.81 (117)	74% (73)	14% (128)	0.94 (96)
ILL Defense	12	51% (75)	45% (87)	-	-	-	-	.15 (78)	3.27 (104)	73% (68)	9% (100)	0.89 (22)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
SC Defense	12	50% (72)	46% (97)	-	-	-	-	.16 (79)	3.2 (93)	77% (95)	8% (115)	0.86 (17)
ILL Offense	12	45% (103)	44% (56)	33	125.1	3.8	12 (116)	.07 (108)	3.31 (32)	67% (109)	12% (98)	0.84 (125)

Pass Game Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
SC Offense	12	58% (12)	43% (54)	23.6	34.3	278	8.1	11.8	21 (65)	8 (30)	.33 (50)	1.6 (70)	37% (131)	30% (72)	.29 (81)	6% (81)	1.9 (111)
ILL Defense	12	49% (69)	45% (110)	-	-	-	-	-	-	7 (111)	.28 (76)	1.5 (21)	31% (78)	34% (114)	.3 (63)	6% (62)	1.8 (7)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
SC Defense	12	49% (58)	43% (85)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10 (67)	.31 (92)	1.6 (50)	30% (107)	29% (51)	.29 (53)	8% (14)	2.2 (114)
ILL Offense	12	53% (35)	48% (14)	21.8	34.5	265.9	7.7	12.2	23 (51)	13 (97)	.37 (35)	1.5 (108)	28% (14)	33% (48)	.36 (63)	9% (130)	1.9 (108)

South Carolina's Power Ratings
South Carolina's Power Rating: 16.96 #11
South Carolina's Offense Rating: 20.17 #65
South Carolina's Defense Rating: 3.17 #13
2024 Talent Rating: 464.00 #19
Blue Chip Ratio: 32% #20
South Carolina's 2024 Expected Record: 9.0 - 4.0
South Carolina's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: 16.9 #14
South Carolina's Offense SP+ Rating: 32.1 #35
South Carolina's Defense SP+ Rating: 16.0 #13

Average Talent
Average SEC Talent Rating is 511.63
Average Power Five Talent: 432.03
Average FBS Talent: 332.4

Power Ratings Matchup
South Carolina: 16.96 Illinois: 8.19

SP+ Ratings Matchup
South Carolina: 16.9 Illinois: 9.6

Illinois's Power Ratings
Illinois's Power Rating: 8.19 #39
Illinois's Offense Rating: 22.25 #47
Illinois's Defense Rating: 9.87 #72
2024 Talent Rating: 328.00 #65
Blue Chip Ratio: 7 #48
Illinois's 2024 Expected Record: 10.0 - 3.0
Illinois's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: 9.6 #31
Illinois's Offense SP+ Rating: 29.0 #55
Illinois's Defense SP+ Rating: 20.9 #26

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 444.83
Average Power Five Talent: 432.03
Average FBS Talent: 332.4

South Carolina Scoring
Offense: 22.7 PPG
Offense on Road: 18.5
Defense: 22.1 PPG
Defense on Road: 27.5

South Carolina's 2024 Record
Record: 9 - 4
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Over/Under Record: 7 - 6
Record on Road: 4 - 1
Record vs Spread on Road: 5 - 0 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 4 - 3 - 0
Record as Road Fav vs Spread: 2 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
South Carolina 29
Illinois 20

Projected Total Points: 49

Illinois Scoring
Offense: 29.4 PPG
Offense at Home: 31.3
Defense: 23.6 PPG
Defense at Home: 14.4

Illinois's 2024 Record
Record: 10 - 3
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Over/Under Record: 5 - 8
Record at home: 6 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 4 - 3 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 7 - 2 - 0
Record as Home Dog vs Spread: 2 - 1 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2024	12/31	Illinois	21	South Carolina	17	South Carolina -9.5	Illinois	50.0	Under

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Illinois	1	1	0 Overs
South Carolina	0	0	1 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	1 - 0	1 - 0	0 - 0	1 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 1	0 - 1	0 - 1	0 - 0

South Carolina Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2024	Citrus Bowl	South Carolina vs Illinois	-9.5	50.0	L 17 - 21
2022	Gator Bowl	South Carolina vs Notre Dame	+5.0	50.5	L 38 - 45
2021	Mayo Bowl	South Carolina vs North Carolina	+12.5	57.5	W 38 - 21
2018	N/A	South Carolina vs Virginia	-3.5	54.0	L 0 - 28

Illinois Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2024	Citrus Bowl	Illinois vs South Carolina	+9.5	50.0	W 21 - 17
2022	Reliaquest Bowl	Illinois vs Mississippi State	+3.5	46.5	L 10 - 19
2019	Redbox Bowl	Illinois vs California	+6.0	47.5	L 20 - 35

(#11) SC at (#39) ILL

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	SC	ILL
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#11	#39
SP+SP+	#14	#31
Perf GradeGrade	#21	#38
OffenseOff	#78	#38
DefenseDef	#10	#50
Spec TeamsST	#26	#47
TalentTal	#19	#65
Blue ChipsBC%	#20	#48

South Carolina Notes(12/11) OC Loggains left for App St HC job
(12/11) Hired Mike Shula as OC? Was OA, NLF, Bama HC
(12/1) Sellers future, how much DL can they keep/get?
(12/1) Even w/ Clem, Sellers legs the diff. Run D good
(11/18) Hot team, Sellers 353 yds (Mizzu) Rgame bad
(11/13) Killed Vandy, Sellers improving, Def best in SEC?
(10/18) Allowed most sacks in FBS, also 8 QB fumbles
(10/12) Run Def great vs Bama, Sellers better. Tough team
(10/6) QB Sellers does not look healthy
(9/15) DL top unit in CFB. Rgame good vs LSU, QB bad
(9/8) Huge W @ UK, Def great, Off still awful.
(9/1) Dog fight w/ Old D? Sellers awful, Run game awful
South Carolina Injury Report

Illinois Injury Report

South Carolina on Offense

Run heavy Offense 58%, Pass: 41%
CategoryCat	SC Off	ILL Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#78	#50
SuccessSuc	#86	#102
ExplosiveExp	#43	#14
PPAPPA	#67	#85
PowerPwr	#65	#72
SP+SP+	#35	#26
Pts POPPO	#51	#96
HavocHav	#123	#87

South Carolina Run Game

Run heavy Offense 58%, Pass: 41%
CategoryCat	SC Off	ILL Def
Run GameRun	#35	#102
Run SuccessRSuc	#120	#87
Run ExplRExp	#96	#22
PPAExp	#122	#78
Run BlockR Blk	#103	-
OL YdsOLY	#117	#104
Stuff RateStuff	#78	#83
TackleTak	-	#7

South Carolina Pass Game

Run heavy Offense 58%, Pass: 41%
CategoryCat	SC Off	ILL Def
Pass GamePass	#69	#26
Pass SuccessPSuc	#54	#110
Pass ExplPExl	#70	#21
PPAExp	#50	#76
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#107	#50
F7 HavocF7	#128	#100
DB HavocDB	#81	#62

Illinois on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 53%
CategoryCat	ILL Off	SC Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#38	#10
SuccessSuc	#30	#92
ExplosiveExp	#113	#15
PPAPPA	#66	#80
PowerPwr	#47	#13
SP+SP+	#55	#13
Pts POPPO	#71	#36
HavocHav	#124	#72

Illinois Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 53%
CategoryCat	ILL Off	SC Def
Run GameRun	#47	#28
Run SuccessRSuc	#56	#97
Run ExplRExp	#125	#17
PPAExp	#108	#79
Run BlockR Blk	#70	-
OL YdsOLY	#32	#93
Stuff RateStuff	#23	#123
TackleTak	-	#42

Illinois Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 53%
CategoryCat	ILL Off	SC Def
Pass GamePass	#40	#12
Pass SuccessPSuc	#14	#85
Pass ExplPExl	#108	#50
PPAExp	#35	#92
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#87	#3
F7 HavocF7	#98	#115
DB HavocDB	#130	#14

Program Comparison
ILL 5 Year Profile: Improving Below Avg P4
'24 Profile: Up to Average P4

SC 5 Year Profile: Improving Average P4
'24 Profile: Up to CFP Hopefuls

Weather Forecast
Playing in Camping World Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 1
South Carolina 9.5 (50.0)
Illinois won vs South Carolina this year (21-17)

Previous Matchups
Illinois beat South Carolina in 2024 (21-17)

SC's OC Dowell Loggains (in his second season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Lanorris Sellers	197	300	66%	2527	18	7	8.4
Robby Ashford (Tr)	23	32	72%	324	2	0	10.1

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Raheim Sanders (Tr)	183	881	11	4.8	66
Lanorris Sellers	165	681	7	4.1	75
Oscar Adaway III (Tr)	77	295	3	3.8	36
Robby Ashford (Tr)	41	227	2	5.5	38

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Joshua Simon	41	512	7	12.5	57
Nyck Harbor	26	376	3	14.5	43
Mazeo Bennett	30	337	3	11.2	36
Raheim Sanders (Tr)	27	316	2	11.7	43

View South Carolina's Full Roster

SC's DC Clayton White (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Nick Emmanwori	88	3	0	0	2
Demetrius Knight II	82	8	2	0	1
Bam Martin-Scott	66	8	3	0	2
Debo Williams	63	5	1	1	0

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Kyle Kennard (Tr)	29	17	12	9	1
Dylan Stewart	23	11	7	3	1
Bryan Thomas Jr.	23	7	5	2	0
Tonka Hemingway	25	4	4	6	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Judge Collier	28	3	0	8
Jalon Kilgore	48	3	3	5
O'Donnell Fortune	47	2	0	3

ILL's OC Barry Lunney Jr. (been OC for 3 years)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Luke Altmyer	211	347	61%	2717	22	6	7.8
Donovan Leary	2	5	40%	29	0	0	5.8

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Joshua McCray	117	609	10	5.2	60
Aidan Laughery	97	589	4	6.1	64
Kaden Feagin	67	306	3	4.6	34
Luke Altmyer	99	217	4	2.2	37

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Patrick Bryant	53	978	10	18.5	64
Zakhari Franklin (Tr)	56	658	4	11.8	44
Hank Beatty	20	294	1	14.7	59
Collin Dixon	18	264	0	14.7	41

View Illinois's Full Roster

ILL's DC Aaron Henry (in his second season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Matthew Bailey	94	2	0	0	5
Gabe Jacas	71	13	8	9	0
Dylan Rosiek	61	3	2	0	1
James Kreutz	54	1	0	2	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Gabe Jacas	71	13	8	9	0
Dennis Briggs Jr. (Tr)	42	5	4	5	0
Te-Rah Edwards	38	5	3	7	0
Seth Coleman	53	7	3	5	3

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Xavier Scott	49	2	1	0	6
Matthew Bailey	94	2	0	0	5
Jaheim Clarke	34	1	0	1	5