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ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) predicts the outcome of each college football game every weekend.
After another wild weekend, the predictions for a loaded Week 3 slate have been revealed. An SEC matchup between No. 16 LSU and South Carolina is included, and the FPI is unsure how this one will play out.
The formula currently gives the Tigers a 51.0% chance of winning, while the Gamecocks have a 49.0% chance. It might come as a surprise that the model sees this as a coin-flip game, considering the Tigers are ranked and had high expectations entering the season.
Unfortunately for LSU, an opening weekend loss to the other USC started things off negatively. In Week 2, the Tigers struggled against FCS Nicholls State in the first half before eventually pulling away.
However, this may be more reflective of the Gamecocks’ impressive Week 2 performance than anything. After struggling against Old Dominion in Week 1, the Gamecocks rebounded by dominating the Kentucky Wildcats.
At Kentucky, South Carolina put up 31 points and allowed 6. The Gamecock defense racked up 5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, making life miserable for the Wildcat offense.
With the Tigers already having a loss on their resume, though, this could be looked at as a must-win game for the Bayou Bengals. With a tough SEC schedule, 2 losses this early in the season may doom any postseason hopes.
For the Gamecocks, a win would give the team another solid conference victory early in the season.
This exciting SEC matchup will kick off from Colombia on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
