Florida vs South Carolina: Odds, injuries, predictions and key matchups

Florida football will try to respond from its first loss of the season when it returns home to face South Carolina in its Homecoming Game on October 10 (12:45 p.m., SEC Network).

The No. 15 Florida Gators (2-3, 0-3 SEC) were humbled in a 45-17 loss at Missouri that exposed more flaws in their shaky secondary UF ranks last in the SEC in pass defense, giving up 266.6 yards per game.

South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) will present another challenge to UF’s defensive backs. Dual-threat South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has passed for 1,059 yards with 8 TDs and 4 interceptions on the season, while receiver Nyck Harbor (6-foot-5, 239 pounds) is a big speedy, target with 13 catches for 195 yards and 1 TDs

The Gamecocks are coming off a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky and have lost three straight, raising the hot seat on embattled coach Shane Beamer.

Florida is 31-5 in Homecoming Games since 1989. In its homecoming game last year, the Gators held on late to beat Mississippi State 23-21.

Florida coach Jon Sumrall said that wide receiver Vernell Brown III (knee) did not participate in practice fully on Monday, October 5 but will do a running session with the training staff later in the afternoon and is trending positively. Sumrall said imaging revealed no structural damage for safety Bryce Thornton’s lower body injury and he’s hopeful to have him for South Carolina,

Over/Under: 62.5

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Kickoff: 12:45 ET

TV: SEC Network

Streaming: Fubo, ESPN+

Location:  Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrer-Florida Field (a.k.a. The Swamp, 88.548)

Spread: Florida -13

Sept. 5 − Florida 66, Florida Atlantic 21

Sept. 12 − Florida 52, Campbell 3

Sept. 19 − Florida 44, Auburn 39

Sept. 26 − Florida 52, Ole Miss 28

Oct. 3 − Missouri 45, Florida 17

Oct. 10 − Florida vs South Carolina, 12:45 p.m., SEC Network

Oct. 17 − Florida at Texas, TBD

Oct. 31 − Florida vs Georgia, Atlanta, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Nov. 7 − Florida vs Oklahoma, TBD

Nov. 14 − Florida at Kentucky, TBD

Nov. 21 − Florida vs Vanderbilt, TBD

Nov. 27 − Florida at Florida State, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida vs South Carolina: Odds, injuries, predictions and key matchups