College Football Week 1 Picks: Texas A&M Aggies vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina Gamecocks junior running back Mike Davis has averaged 5.7 yards per carry in his career, which is important to consider when making your Week 1 college football picks, as he prepares to take on the Texas A&M Aggies at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Sports bettors will find that the Gamecocks are 14-point home favorites in the NCAA football odds, with no betting total available in the marketplace.

Let's take a closer look at this Southeastern Conference matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

Gambling stats via SBR Forum 

Texas A&M Aggies

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The Texas A&M Aggies put together a 9-4 straight-up and 5-8 against-the-spread record during the 2013-14 season. However, they must now prepare for life without star Johnny Manziel.

Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin welcomes back 14 overall starters, but he'll be busy overseeing a quarterback competition in College Station, Texas—one that many believe true freshman Kyle Allen is destined to win. 

South Carolina Gamecocks

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The South Carolina Gamecocks have won a school-record 18 consecutive home games, while they've captured their last seven openers at this venue by an average of 22 points.

Head coach Steve Spurrier will hand the offense over to senior quarterback Dylan Thompson, who has won all three of his career starts and thrown for 1,827 yards and 14 touchdowns since arriving on campus. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the South Carolina Gamecocks as one of their Week 1 college football picks, as they've covered the number in four of their last five Thursday affairs.

Pick: South Carolina Gamecocks -14

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