South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina Gamecocks Thursday night at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, the North Carolina State Wolfpack host Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks as both teams kick their 2009 season.

The ole ball coach won SEC titles and a national championship during his 12 years at Florida, but he found the it to be a little but tougher at South Carolina. The Gamecocks are trying to improve on a 7-6 season from a year ago, and for Spurrier it starts tonight.

NCAA Football odds makers are calling North Carolina State a home favorite with the line at -5. The total in the game sits at 47.

With the Gamecocks and the Wolfpack both being charter members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the NC State-South Carolina rivalry is one of the oldest in college football. The Gamecocks may
have left the ACC in 1971, but the two have met 55 times including every year from 1956-1991. The Wolfpack holds a slight edge with a 26-25-4.

NC State comes into this season with big expectations. Last season the Wolfpack won their last four regular-season games and earned a bowl game bid. Sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson was outstanding under center. He became the first freshman in the 57-year history of the conference to capture All-ACC first-team signal-caller honors.

If the Wolfpack hope to return to a bowl in 2009, they'll have to improve on defense. The Wolfpack gave up an ACC-worst 390.9 yards and 26.3 points per game.

Expect Steve Spurrier's offense to exploit what might still be a soft NC State defense. I like the Gamecocks in this one.

Take South Carolina getting the 5 points on the road.