The SEC on CBS Game of the Week on Saturday has major implications for the SEC East, as the two teams expected to finish atop the division go head-to-head in Week 2. No. 3 Georgia heads to Columbia, South Carolina, to take on No. 24 South Carolina on Saturday in a game that could have massive ramifications in the SEC East race. Both teams feasted on cupcakes during the opening weekend of action, but they will have to come out of the gate clicking on all cylinders in Week 2. After all, the last thing either needs is to be down one game with a head-to-head loss in the first conference game of the year. Let's get ready for the critical division matchup. Viewing information Date: Saturday, Sept. 8 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Location: Williams-Brice Stadium -- Columbia, South Carolina TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App Storylines Georgia: The Bulldogs picked up right where they left off last year in the win over Austin Peay. Quarterback Jake Fromm looked sharp, several receivers (including California transfer Demetris Robertson) made an impact and running back D'Andre Swift found the end zone while averaging 5.38 yards per carry. The biggest question for Georgia is its defense -- particularly its new linebackers. Against an offense like South Carolina that plays fast and provides some eye candy before the snap, it'll be imperative for the Bulldogs front seven to stay smart and stick to their assignments. South Carolina: The Gamecocks looked incredibly sharp against Coastal Carolina last weekend -- especially on offense. Rico Dowdle rushed for 105 yards and a score on 15 carries, Shi Smith, Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards all topped 50 receiving yards in a game in which their services weren't needed for long and the defense gave up just 238 yards. Things get cranked up big time this weekend against the defending SEC champs. Luckily for the Gamecocks, Williams-Brice Stadium should be rocking. Game prediction, picks South Carolina played Georgia tough last year in Athens, and that was without Samuel -- one of the most explosive players in college football. History will repeat itself Saturday afternoon. Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley will have some success finding Edwards and Samuel, Dowdle will do enough to take pressure off the passing game and the Gamecocks will have a chance to spring the upset in the fourth quarter. Expect Fromm to play smart, the defense to just enough and Swift to put it away late -- but not cover. Pick: South Carolina (+10.5) So which teams should you back in Week 2 of the college football season? Visit SportsLine now to see the projected final score for every FBS matchup, all from the model that nailed its final seven picks of the 2017-18 season and has returned over $4,000 in profit to $100 bettors over the last three seasons.<doc-sep>Lance King/Getty Images Georgia owns four victories in its last five meetings with South Carolina, going 3-2 against the spread in the process. So what's the smart bet for Saturday afternoon's key SEC East battle between the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks in Columbia? College football point spread: The Bulldogs opened as 10-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report) College football betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 32.2-12.3 Bulldogs (College football picks on every game) Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news. Why the Georgia Bulldogs can cover the spread The Bulldogs opened their 2018 season with a walk in the park, a 45-0 victory over FCS Austin Peay. Georgia hit the scoreboard on each of its first six possessions of the game, led 38-0 at the half, then cleared the bench, rested starters and eschewed covering the spread as 48-point favorites. Video Play Button Videos you might like On the day, the Bulldogs outgained the Governors 508-152. Also, in its first game since losing running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to the NFL, Georgia ran the ball for 284 yards. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs defense limited Austin Peay to just seven first downs and never let the Governors breach the red zone. Stretching back to the 2016 bowl season, Georgia is now 15-2 SU and 12-5 ATS over its last 17 games. It's also 5-2 ATS when favored on the road under head coach Kirby Smart. Why the South Carolina Gamecocks can cover the spread The Gamecocks opened their 2018 campaign with a 49-15 victory over Coastal Carolina. South Carolina drove 80 yards to a touchdown on its first possession, 69 yards to a touchdown on its second and 72 yards to a touchdown on its third. The Gamecocks led 28-3 at the half and 42-6 through three quarters, and they then held on for the cover as 31-point favorites. On the day, South Carolina outgained the Chanticleers 561-243 and won the ground battle 267-131. Junior quarterback Jake Bentley, after compiling an 18/12 touchdowns/interceptions ratio last year, threw four touchdown passes Saturday against zero interceptions. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks defense held Coastal Carolina to a single offensive touchdown, which came with help from a pass-interference penalty with the game already out of reach. Smart betting pick The Bulldogs beat South Carolina 24-10 last year but could not cover the spread as 23-point home favorites. This year, Georgia probably doesn't have quite as good a team as it did that day, while the Gamecocks are better now than they were then. South Carolina may not win this game, either, but the smart money takes the points. College football betting trends The total has gone under in 14 of Georgia's last 20 games against South Carolina. The total has gone under in 14 of South Carolina's last 18 games against its conference. South Carolina is 7-2-1 ATS in its last 10 games. All college football odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.<doc-sep>Fresh off big season-opening victories against overmatched opponents, the South Carolina Gamecocks and Georgia Bulldogs will enter their annual SEC East showdown with the Bulldogs as a 9.5-point favorite. The line opened with the Gamecocks as a 10-point underdog, but shifted quickly in favor of the home team. The SEC Game of the Week scheduled for 3:30 p.m. promises to be one of the best atmospheres on tap for Williams-Brice this season. No. 3 Georgia rolled FCS foe Austin Peay last week in a 45-0 rout that featured an abbreviated fourth quarter. Quarterback Jake Fromm went 12-of-16 passing for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and running backs D’Andre Swift, Elijah Holyfield, and Demetris Robertson each scored, with Robertson’s 72 yards leading the way. Three different Dawgs receivers caught touchdown passes as well: Mecole Hardman, Riley Ridley, and Isaac Nauta. (You might remember that Riley, younger brother of Bama standout Calvin Ridley, was once committed to the Gamecocks.) The over/under is set at 54 points. Both teams are 1-0 against the spread this season.<doc-sep>
Georgia is set to face South Carolina, its second opponent of the season, in Columbia, S.C. on Saturday, Sept. 8. The matchup will be the SEC opener for both programs. The Gamecocks, under third-year head coach Will Muschamp, are coming off a 49-15 home win over Coastal Carolina. Georgia, under third-year head coach Kirby Smart, is coming off a 45-0 home win over Austin Peay. On Sunday, the line was updated for the matchup, with Georgia seen as a 10-point road favorite early Sunday. Within 30 minutes, the line moved to the Bulldogs being 9.5-point favorites by BetOnline. Georgia is 50-18-2 against South Carolina all-time, with the Bulldogs winning the last three games, including a 24-10 win last season. Last season, Georgia was a 20-point favorite over the Gamecocks. Earlier this summer, Georgia was originally listed as an 11-point favorite over South Carolina, with some outlets going as high as 14.5-pound favorites. This game will provide both programs an opportunity to get the inside track in the SEC East, with the loser basically being two games down in the division. Georgia entered the season ranked as the No. 3 team in the country behind only Alabama and Clemson. The Bulldogs are coming off a 13-2 season, winning the Southeastern Conference title and falling to Alabama in overtime of the College Football Playoff National Championship. Against the Governors, Georgia had 508 yards of offense on 60 plays, with quarterbacks Jake Fromm going 12-for-16 for 157 yards and two touchdowns and Justin Fields connecting on 7-of-8 passes for 63 yards and a score. Nine different players received at least one touch at running back as the team combined to go for 284 yards on the ground with three scores. Cal transfer wide receiver Demetris Robertson took a handoff 72 yards for a touchdown. Earlier this summer, noted college football handicapper Danny Sheridan said that Georgia will “pop” South Carolina this year. Just recently, former Bulldogs player turned SEC Network analyst Matt Stinchcomb said the Gamecocks have a chance to pull the upset. In the last 11 matchups, the Gamecocks are 5-6 against Georgia, including a 4-1 record at home. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. this Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium between the two SEC East rivals and will be broadcast on CBS. Betting lines will likely have more eyes on them this season as the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of New Jersey in the state’s challenge to the federal law that banned states from legalizing gambling on sporting events -- with the exception of Nevada. The ruling that the law is unconstitutional, which came down to a 7-2 vote, sets the stage for states to start allowing gambling on sports. How that will be structured by each state remains to be seen, so we don’t know when or if the state of Georgia will follow suit.