College Football Betting: South Carolina Gamecocks Futures

South Carolina is no longer an SEC punching bag. They have successfully recruited the last four "Mr. Football" winners in their own state instead of watching them commit to their more prestigious conference rivals.

Homegrown football players dot the roste,r but the Gamecocks are now rich enough to lure athletes from all over the country to build this burgeoning program.

Recent history 

The SEC is the elite conference in college football - with the numbers to prove it. SEC teams have won 7 of the last 9 national titles, invincible defenses being the common denominator. The Gamecocks fit that mold last season, ranking 2^nd against the pass and 11^th in points allowed, surrendering only 18.4 points per game with a schedule littered with SEC clashes. The Gamecocks wound up ranked 9^th in the country, there first top ten finish ever. This season they are gunning for a national championship. 

Defections 

College teams have high profile losses every single season, particularly with the NFL beckoning to its more skilled athletes who leave the college game for the bright lights and big money of professional football. South Carolina will go to battle this season with a major piece of their puzzle gone from last season and he never even strapped on a helmet. Their defensive coordinator and architect of SC's brilliant ground and air stop units Ellis Johnson, departed for the top spot at Southern Mississippi.

In addition, defensive stalwarts Melvin Ingram and Stephen Gilmore have taken their talents to the next level while offensive star Alshon Jeffrey is now a member of the Chicago Bears. Despite these departures, the Gamecocks are getting several returning starters and some of the cornerstones of last season's success. 

Reason to Believe 

The first name that comes to mind when you think of South Carolina Gamecock football is the electric Marcus Lattimore. Who can forget last season's stunning performance when he broke a school record in front of his home crowd and chewed up yardage like a Panzer tank against Navy, amassing 246 yards and scoring three touchdowns. But, the end came abruptly when he tore a knee ligament against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on October 15^th and missed the rest of the season. He's back this year, however, as a Heisman candidate - that is, if he can duplicate his past successes.

As good as Lattimore is, he will need a break and, when he does, Brandon Wilds will get his turn to make defenses pay. He did an admirable job in relief of Lattimore last season and he will comprise half of this potent one-two punch. Also, Bruce Ellington and Ace Sanders will be major pieces to the South Carolina air patrol as well as highly touted freshman Shaq Roland.

Bookends JaDeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor will create chaos up front defensively while returning incumbent quarterback starter Connor Shaw will have a full season to demonstrate his passing prowess. There is plenty of talent on both sides of the ball for Steve Spurriers' crew and plenty of hope for a dominating season. 

The Odds 

5Dimes.com currently has South Carolina at +1250 to win the SEC championship behind Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and Arkansas. There is a boatload of talent on those rosters and, as optimistic as I am for South Carolina this season, I'm not sure if even 12-1 will be enough for me to back the 'Cocks to win the SEC. However, I might plunk down a few bucks on South Carolina to win their division, the SEC East at +225, where there only real competition looks to be Georgia and Florida, a far cry from the crowded SEC West boasting Alabama, LSU, Arkansas and Auburn.