South Carolina, the defending SEC East champion, enters the 2011 season listed at +190 moneyline odds to retain its division title. Topping the odds leaderboard in the SEC's lesser half are Will Muschamp's Florida Gators at +175 odds. 2011 College Football Predictions are looking for the Gamecocks to top nine wins this season, though, with the team presently drawing -125 odds to beat last year's win total.
Steve Spurrier finally got the 
Gamecocks over the hump last year, guiding the team to its first SEC East title on his watch, but the season did not end well for South Carolina. SC dropped its final two games as Auburn rolled Spurrier's troops 56-17 in the SEC Championship and Florida State stopped the Gamecocks 26-17 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Despite the undesirable finish, South Carolina has much to feel good about heading into the 2011 season. Thirteen starters and 48 lettermen return from last year's 9-5 team, including National Freshman of the Year, running back Marcus Lattimore.
In addition to Lattimore, who rushed for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2010, South Carolina also welcomes back signal caller Stephen Garcia and top receiver Alshon Jeffery. Jeffery, like Lattimore, had a monster season last year, catching 88 passes for 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns.
Garcia, despite throwing for 20 touchdowns and rushing for six, may or may not get the start at quarterback. The senior passer seems to find trouble off the field with far greater frequency than is acceptable for Spurrier or any other head coach. Garcia was suspended twice this spring by Spurrier, leading some to believe the "Old Ball Coach" may turn to sophomore Connor Shaw.
South Carolina's defense brings back six starters, including its top four tacklers and leading sacker from a season ago. The returning talent, along with the addition of highly touted recruits such as defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney, could, potentially, give the Gamecocks their best defense yet under Spurrier.
Last year South Carolina yielded an average of 23.1 points and 354 yards per game, this season's numbers should more closely resemble 2009's statistics, when the Gamecocks allowed 20.4 points and 301 yards per contest.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Garcia and South Carolina's brutal schedule, Spurrier and company could find themselves in a dog fight with teams like Georgia and Florida for the top spot in the SEC East. The Gamecocks must travel to Georgia, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Arkansas, and they host quality opponents in East Carolina, Navy, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida, and Clemson.
2011 College Football Predictions: 8-4 Overall, 5-3 Conference, Second Place East Division
South Carolina Gamecocks 2011 College Football Predictions:
Regular Season Wins: Over 9 Games (-125), Under 9 Games (-105)
SEC East Division 2011 – Odds to Win +190
2011 SEC Championship Game – Odds to Win +600
2012 BCS National Championship – Odds to Win +3000
