Free College Football Picks Today: Gator Bowl 2022

The No. 19 University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-4, 3-2 Away) travel to face the No. 20 South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4, 5-2 Home) at TIAA Bank Field on Friday. The Fighting Irish are 2.5-point favorites, and the total is 51.5.

Notre Dame is coming off a 38-27 loss against No. 5 USC at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 26. Drew Pyne was 23 of 26 for 318 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Audric Estime ran six times for 43 yards. He added two receptions for 31 yards. Michael Mayer caught eight passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

South Carolina beat No. 7 Clemson 31-30 at Memorial Stadium on November 26. Spencer Rattler threw for 360 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Jaheim Bell carried nine times for 29 yards and a touchdown. Antwane Wells Jr. added two touchdowns of his own. He hauled in nine receptions for 131 yards.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Fighting Irish are averaging 30.7 points per game for the season, 51st in FBS, and they are facing a Gamecocks defense that has surrendered 27.5 PPG (79th). Meanwhile, South Carolina has scored 31.7 points a game this season, 45th in the country, and Notre Dame is allowing 21.8 PPG (34th).

The Fighting Irish rank 106th in the country in passing yards per game (199.9) and 45th in rushing (182.8). They will look to take advantage on the ground, as the Gamecocks are 113th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (192.4). Against the pass, South Carolina is 29th (199.5).

South Carolina is 42nd in the country in passing yards per game (257.8) and 104th in rushing (123.3), while the Fighting Irish are allowing 190.6 passing yards (21st) and 136.2 rushing yards per game (44th).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 11 games, Drew Pyne has thrown for 22 touchdowns (6 INT) and 183.7 yards per game to lead Notre Dame in passing. In four games away from home this season, he has 11 TDs (3 INT) and an average of 248.0 yards passing.

Audric Estime leads the team in rushing with an average of 68.8 yards a game over 12 games. He has 11 touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Michael Mayer is the Fighting Irish’s leading receiver with 67.4 yards a game and nine TDs.

Spencer Rattler has 16 passing touchdowns (11 INT) with 230.5 yards per game through 12 games to lead South Carolina. MarShawn Lloyd has been the team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 63.6 yards a game through nine games.

He has 11 total touchdowns, nine rushing and two receiving. Antwane Wells Jr. has been a key target in the Gamecocks’ aerial attack. He has six touchdowns and an 81.6 yard per game average through 11 appearances.

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.