No. 21 South Carolina hosts Texas A&M at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET. The game turns on whether the Aggies can contain LaNorris Sellers, who leads the Gamecocks in both passing and rushing. The Aggies also have to prove they can win away from home.

The Matchup

Texas A&M Aggies: 4-4 (4-1 home)
South Carolina Gamecocks: 5-3 (3-2 home)
Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
Kickoff: Saturday, November 7, 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Line: South Carolina -7, O/U 50.5

South Carolina Gamecocks tickets
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What Decides It

South Carolina's run game is the mismatch that should decide this one.

The Gamecocks run for nearly 218 yards a game. Texas A&M's defense allows about 133 on the ground, so South Carolina's rushing attack produces well beyond what the Aggies typically give up.

The Aggies do have a case on the scoreboard. They allow about 19 points a game, fewer than the 25 South Carolina gives up. Holding that line means keeping Sellers from turning broken plays into first downs, and his numbers say that is a tall order.

Texas A&M has not shown it can score on the road.

All four Aggies wins came at home, including a 41-0 rout and a 34-7 win in their last five games. Their last three road trips produced losses of 20-31, 6-27 and 6-35.

That is why their season average of about 28 points a game flatters them heading into Columbia. Their best path is the ground game: they run for about 155 yards a game against a South Carolina run defense allowing about 115, and KJ Edwards will need to carry the load.

The total looks low on paper, but the Aggies' road form supports it.

These offenses combine for about 65 points a game, well above the 50.5 total. Texas A&M's road scoring explains the gap, and it points toward a game South Carolina controls rather than a shootout.

South Carolina arrives in form.

The Gamecocks have won 3 straight, including 42-25 and 38-19 road wins. They have scored at least 27 points in each of their last four games, a run that started with a 34-35 overtime loss at home.

Players to Watch

South Carolina Gamecocks

Passing: LaNorris Sellers – 152-243, 1,849 YDS, 16-7 (TD-INT)
Rushing: LaNorris Sellers – 98 ATT, 603 YDS, 6 TD
Receiving: Mazeo Bennett Jr. – 35 REC, 431 YDS, 4 TD

Sellers is the whole operation, leading the team through the air and on the ground. Bennett is his top target and has 4 touchdown catches.

Texas A&M Aggies

Passing: Marcel Reed – 126-222, 1,390 YDS, 8-8 (TD-INT)
Rushing: KJ Edwards – 55 ATT, 360 YDS, 2 TD
Receiving: Isaiah Horton – 23 REC, 314 YDS, 3 TD

Reed has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns, which puts more weight on Edwards and the run game. Horton is the receiver Reed leans on most.

Prediction

South Carolina's ground game and its recent scoring give it the clear edge against an Aggies team that has scored 20, 6 and 6 in its last three road games. Texas A&M's defense keeps it closer than the Gamecocks' season average suggests, but not close enough. South Carolina covers the 7 and the game stays under 50.5.