College Football Betting Odds

N.C. State @ South Carolina - August 28th, 2008

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

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College football season kicks off on Thursday, with probably the best game that night being in Columbia, S.C., where South Carolina hosts North Carolina State.

Neither team is ranked, but Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks are a potential sleeper in the SEC. South Carolina had a good defense last season but struggled on offense, so maybe that’s why Spurrier waited until this week to name his starting tailback: Taylor Rank.

This was a surprising move, to say the least.

Rank had just two carries for five yards last season and began the preseason third on the depth chart behind Mike Davis and sophomore Brian Maddox. Davis, the presumed starter who shared time with graduated Cory Boyd last year, missed the final two weeks of preseason camp because of a shoulder injury and stomach.

"He looks OK. He looks OK," Spurrier said of Davis. "Taylor Rank's going to start. He's had a little bit better preseason practice. He had a good summer with going to workouts. And Mike did, too. But Mike will be in early. He's ready to play." 

Davis, who has rushed for 1,658 yards in three seasons, was listed No. 1 on the depth chart issued Sunday. Rank, a redshirt junior, has only one previous start. He rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries two years ago against Florida Atlantic.

 

A good start could be crucial for South Carolina, which is just 21-16 under Spurrier. The team collapsed down the stretch last year after starting 6-1. The Gamecocks are 13.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com for the opener.

The Wolfpack also held out until announcing a starter at a key position: Redshirt freshman Russell Wilson will start at quarterback, with senior Daniel Evans his backup.

Coach Tom O'Brien said he picked Wilson because he "gives us the best opportunity to win the football game."

He's the Wolfpack's third starting quarterback in O'Brien's two seasons. Evans made eight starts during N.C. State's 5-7 season in 2007, and third-stringer Harrison Beck started four games.

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