Independence Bowl Betting: Miami Hurricanes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Odds

The Miami Hurricanes and South Carolina Gamecocks will each be fighting for a winning record when they meet in the Independence Bowl. Miami will look to break a three-game losing streak straight up and against the spread after starting the season 6-3, while South Carolina has won two of three after dropping four of five.

Independence Bowl point spread: This game opened as a pick'em; the total was 60.5. (Line updates and matchup report)

Odds Shark computer prediction: 32.6-29.5 Hurricanes

Why the Hurricanes can cover the spread

The Hurricanes seemed to lose their edge in the final month of the season, especially after falling to the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles 30-26 in a game they could have won. They were favored against the Virginia Cavaliers and Pittsburgh Panthers but lost to both of them following the home defeat to Florida State.

However, Miami was one of the hottest teams in the country up until that point and may have ended up running the table had the team found a way to upset the Seminoles as a two-point underdog. Regardless, the Hurricanes have had plenty of time to recover from that disappointing stretch and still deserve to be favored here against the Gamecocks.

Why the Gamecocks can cover the spread

South Carolina played in a much tougher conference than Miami and finished with the same record despite facing better competition for the most part. This was not one of head coach Steve Spurrier’s better teams, but the Gamecocks found a way to become bowl eligible.

They now have some new life and can start building for next year when they face a Miami squad that really struggled at the end of the season. Unlike the Hurricanes, South Carolina has covered two of its last three games and showed some heart down the stretch even in defeat. Four of the team’s past five losses have been decided by seven points or less, proving the Gamecocks have continued to play hard for Spurrier.

Smart Pick

It’s hard to believe Miami has grown to a favorite in this game considering how poorly this team ended the season. The Hurricanes seemed to wave the white flag in their last two games, so how can bettors be expected to back them against South Carolina?

To make matters worse, they have also lost five of their last six bowl games both SU and ATS. The Gamecocks are certainly not the same calibre as they were the past three seasons with the likes of Alshon Jeffery, Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney leading them to bowl wins.

But those star players left positive marks on the program that should resonate with this year’s team, while Miami was crushed by the Louisville Cardinals 36-9 in the 2013 Florida Citrus Bowl. Bet on the winning ways continuing for South Carolina.

Trends

• Miami is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games
• The total has gone under in four of South Carolina's last six games

Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark. Follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.