Perhaps never has this rivalry game had higher stakes, seeing as the winner could secure a bid in the 12-team playoff. The Tigers have been mostly solid, with a slip up against Louisville their lone blemish outside of a Week 1 loss to Georgia. The Gamecocks have their best team in ages and have won 5 straight, but Texas A&M is the lone notable opponent in that stretch. Let's back the program with the more proven pedigree to come through in this spot.

The Gamecocks are arguably playing the best ball in the SEC, having won five straight games by an average of 23.4 points per game. That includes two wins over ranked teams. South Carolina has been playing great defense all season, giving up just 18.2 points per game (14th in the country). Meanwhile, Clemson has not beaten a ranked team this season, and the Tigers' best win is a four-point victory against Pitt. Give me the Gamecocks on the money line.

Clemson is 3-3 ATS at home on the season. The Gamecocks come into this game riding a five-game win streak and have been holding their opponents to 265.3 total yards on the road. Clemson hasn’t played the toughest schedule this season, with their two strongest opponents being Georgia and Louisville, losing both games by double digits. The Tigers are 5-1 SU at home this season and still have enough firepower offense, averaging 525.8 yards at home.

Carolina has their eyes set on the Palmetto Bowl with hopes of beating Clemson and run their record to 9-3 and 9-3 against the spread. That's the thing I'm keying on is the spread. Clemson at home should at least be the 7-point favorite and they're only laying 3 or less. Clemson averages a 37-22 score on the season and their 469 yards per game is No. 6 in the nation. Clemson is 9-2, and they need to win any hopes of making the college football playoffs. I think that's a powerful incentive to win. Clemson covers.

Big stakes in this rivalry game as both teams have an outside chance at making the College Football Playoff with a win. No Tigers home game has seen less than 54 total points this season, which makes this line a bit puzzling. South Carolina is averaging more than 39 points per game during their current five game winning streak and their offense is just humming. Expect this to be one of the most fun games of the weekend and live up to the hype. The Gamecocks are 7-0 lifetime vs. the Tigers when both teams are ranked. Let the streak continue: South Carolina 34, Clemson 28.