Probetrics — Sports Analytics
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at
Sat, Sep 19, 4:15 PM ET
Williams-Brice Stadium
Spread Total Moneyline

The read

On rating alone South Carolina Gamecocks are 2.4 points better (#47 vs #63 of 240), and SC add 0.0 for home field. The clearest mismatch is the rushing game: SC rushing ranks #81, MSST defends it at #96; the other way MSST #71 into SC's #8.

Who has the edge

Rating
Slight edge
SC
SC rated 2.4 points better on Elo (#47 vs #63).
Home & rest
Even
SC gets 0.0 points for home field.
Passing game
Even
SC passing ranks #108, MSST defends it at #91; the other way MSST #92 into SC's #73.
context · not in the margin
Rushing game
Clear edge
SC
SC rushing ranks #81, MSST defends it at #96; the other way MSST #71 into SC's #8.
context · not in the margin
Third down & red zone
Clear edge
MSST
MSST third-down conversion ranks #38, SC defends it at #71; the other way SC #127 into MSST's #96.
context · not in the margin
Form (last 5)
Clear edge
SC
SC +57.0 per game over the last five, MSST +49.0.
context · not in the margin
Market
not priced
No line yet.
context · not in the margin

The margin, factor by factor

Mississippi State BulldogsSouth Carolina Gamecocks
1552 Elo · #63
RatingThe Elo gap in points — the model's core read on who is better, before the situational pieces below.
SC +2.4 pts
1595 Elo · #47
road
Home field
not priced
home
Rest
even
−2.4 pts vs SC D
Offense vs defenseEach offense's scoring rating against the other defense's — what drives the model total. Shown as an edge, though the winner call runs on Elo.
SC +8.5 pts
+6.0 pts vs MSST D
W · +49.0
Form (last 5)Average margin over the last five games. Already inside the ratings — listed so you can see when recent form and the rating disagree.
SC +4.0 pts
W · +57.0
+4.1
SP+ (last season)Bill Connelly's SP+ from last season, the prior the college model starts each season from.
SC +1.8 pts
+5.9
MarketThe consensus spread, read as points. Compare with the model margin above it.
not priced

Bars are in points toward the favored side. Blue factors are inside the model's margin; grey ones are context it does not add on top (form and offense/defense are already in the ratings; injuries beyond the quarterback are not priced).

Dissect the matchup

CollegeFootballData, garbage time excluded · 2025 season (last season until three games are in)

Biggest mismatches

  • SC pass explosiveness (#30) against a MSST defense ranked #123 at stopping it
  • SC stuff rate (#43) against a MSST defense ranked #125 at stopping it
  • MSST defense (#69 points / scoring opportunity allowed) against a SC offense ranked #133
  • SC defense (#8 rushing ppa / play allowed) against a MSST offense ranked #71
  • SC defense (#31 line yards / rush allowed) against a MSST offense ranked #94

A mismatch is a rank gap of at least a fifth of the league between an offense and the defense it faces on the same measure. Descriptive rows (pass rate, pace, direction) are shown for reading the game, not ranked. ▲▼ mark where the last three games sit clearly above or below the season number, in the direction that helps that side.

Mississippi State Bulldogs offense vs South Carolina Gamecocks defense

ranks of 135
MSST offSC defEdge
Identity
Pass rate / Pass rate faced46%47%·
Standard-down shareShare of plays on standard downs (staying ahead of the chains).66%69%·
Plays / game6763·
Possession / game28:4132:01·
Passing
Passing PPA / playPredicted points added per pass play (CFBD).+0.21#92+0.25#73·
Pass success rate39%#10144%#106·
Pass explosivenessPPA on successful pass plays — how big the wins are.1.71#181.48#41·
Yards / pass attempt8.0#337.0#57·
Completion %62%#6560%#47·
Interception rate / Interceptions forced3.3%#972.9%#42SC
Rushing
Rushing PPA / play+0.11#71−0.06#8SC
Rush success rate44%#6239%#39·
Rush explosiveness0.96#680.88#23SC
Line yards / rushYards credited to the offensive line (first 4 yards weighted). Defense column: allowed.2.81#942.70#31SC
Stuff rate / Stuff rate forcedRushes stopped at or behind the line.19%#8322%#26SC
Power successConversion rate on 3rd/4th and ≤2, or goal-to-go from the 2.72%#7268%#42SC
Yards / rush3.7#1073.8#47SC
Situational
Standard-down PPA+0.05#103+0.06#51SC
Passing-down PPAObvious passing situations (2nd & 8+, 3rd/4th & 5+).+0.30#70+0.14#14SC
Third-down conversion43%#3840%#71MSST
Points / scoring opportunityPoints per drive that reaches the opponent's 40.4.41#223.15#29·
Havoc rate faced / Havoc rateTFLs, forced fumbles, interceptions and passes defensed per play.18.2%#11716.0%#60SC
Turnovers / game / Takeaways / game1.15#521.83#15SC

South Carolina Gamecocks offense vs Mississippi State Bulldogs defense

ranks of 135
SC offMSST defEdge
Identity
Pass rate / Pass rate faced50%46%·
Standard-down shareShare of plays on standard downs (staying ahead of the chains).64%70%·
Plays / game5865·
Possession / game27:5930:56·
Passing
Passing PPA / playPredicted points added per pass play (CFBD).+0.17#108+0.30#91·
Pass success rate36%#11940%#56MSST
Pass explosivenessPPA on successful pass plays — how big the wins are.1.65#301.73#123SC
Yards / pass attempt7.9#387.3#81SC
Completion %61%#8060%#49MSST
Interception rate / Interceptions forced3.5%#1032.3%#78·
Rushing
Rushing PPA / play+0.09#81+0.16#96·
Rush success rate39%#10648%#123·
Rush explosiveness1.07#300.89#30·
Line yards / rushYards credited to the offensive line (first 4 yards weighted). Defense column: allowed.2.89#763.41#134SC
Stuff rate / Stuff rate forcedRushes stopped at or behind the line.17%#4314%#125SC
Power successConversion rate on 3rd/4th and ≤2, or goal-to-go from the 2.62%#12377%#107·
Yards / rush3.3#1284.9#118·
Situational
Standard-down PPA+0.07#92+0.15#101·
Passing-down PPAObvious passing situations (2nd & 8+, 3rd/4th & 5+).+0.14#124+0.38#109·
Third-down conversion32%#12741%#96MSST
Points / scoring opportunityPoints per drive that reaches the opponent's 40.2.61#1333.68#69MSST
Havoc rate faced / Havoc rateTFLs, forced fumbles, interceptions and passes defensed per play.19.8%#12913.5%#110·
Turnovers / game / Takeaways / game1.50#971.38#53MSST

Season

MSSTSC
1-0Record1-0
62.0Points for / game57.0
13.0Points against / game0.0
1-0 / 0-0Home / road1-0 / 0-0
1-0Against the spread1-0
1-0Over / underOvers–unders in this team's games. A tendency, not a lean.1-0
WLast 5W

Power ratings

MSSTSC
1552Elo1595
#63 of 240Rank#47 of 240
+10.1Offense ratingPoints per game above league average scored, opponent-adjusted.+6.9
+0.8Defense ratingPoints per game below league average allowed, opponent-adjusted. Positive is good.+12.5
1196Strength of scheduleMean Elo of opponents faced this season.1230

Elo drives the winner call. Offense/defense ratings drive the total.

Advanced

MSSTSC
+4.8SP+ (this season)Bill Connelly's SP+ rating, points above average.+12.6
0.138Offense PPA / playPredicted points added per play, garbage time excluded (CFBD).0.099
0.221Defense PPA / playPPA allowed per play — lower is better.0.085
42% / 44%Success rate (off / def)37% / 42%
1.29 / 1.27Explosiveness (off / def)1.35 / 1.19
805Talent composite247Sports team talent composite for the current roster.863
34%Returning production69%

Advanced stats are from 2025 until this season has about three games. Source: CollegeFootballData.

Head to head

2023MSST 30 at SC 37SC · SC covered

How the margin was built

Rating gap
SC +2.4 pts
Home field
SC +— pts
Rest
Even
Weather / roof
— pts on the total
Model margin
Model total

Market

Spread
Total
Moneyline

Per-book prices appear once the multi-book feed has this game (about a week out).

Informational only. Winner probabilities are backtested and calibrated; spread and total calls are tracked leans. 21+, 1-800-GAMBLER.