College Football Predictions: The South Carolina Gamecocks and the North Carolina State Wolfpack are set to kickoff the 2009 college football season tonight as they square off at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Wolfpack will be looking to exact a little revenge after the Gamecocks dumped them 34-0 in last season's opener. South Carolina vs NC State College Football Predictions, Odds & Picks at Bodog.com have Tom O'Brien's squad listed as a -5 against the spread favorite.
South Carolina enters the season after a 7-6 2008 campaign that 
saw the team fall 31-10 to Iowa in the Outback Bowl. Eleven starters are back from that squad, five on offense and six on defense.
At quarterback for the Gamecocks is sophomore Stephen Garcia. Garcia was suppose to be the starter a year ago, but ran into legal troubles that sidelined him for the first part of the season. He returned later in the year and threw for 832 yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also ranked second on the team in rushing with 198 yards.
Gamecocks Head Coach Steve Spurrier depended greatly on his defense a season ago as the offense produced an average of just 20.8 points per game. With last season's leading rusher and top two receivers gone, that will again be the case in 2009.
South Carolina took advantage of an inexperienced NC State squad last year, holding the Wolfpack to 138 yards for the game. That will not happen tonight, though, as O'Brien welcomes back quarterback Russell Wilson, top receivers Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams, and a more experienced offensive line.
Wilson earned first team ACC honors at quarterback (1955 yards passing, 388 yards rushing, 17 pass touchdowns, 4 rushing touchdowns, one interception), but he played sparingly in last year's meeting with the Gamecocks as a result of a first half concussion. He will be the best player on the field when the two teams mix it up tonight.
The Wolfpack's defense should also be better equipped to deal with a less than potent South Carolina offensive attack. Six starters are back from a team that held opponents to 26.3 points per game, including top tackler Ray Michel and top sacker Willie Young.
NC State will miss linebacker Nate Irving, though. Irving suffered a leg injury last month that will sideline him for the 2009 season. The junior linebacker had 80 tackles and four interceptions last year.
Tonight's game is set to get underway at 7:00pm ET; it will be broadcast live on ESPN.
College Football Predictions Betting Trend: The Under is 1-6-1 in South Carolina's last eight games as a road dog with a total between 44.5 and 47.
Bodog.com South Carolina vs NC State College Football Predictions, Odds & Picks:
South Carolina Gamecocks +5 (-110), Over 46 (-115), +170 (Moneyline)
North Carolina State Wolfpack -5 (-110), Under 46 (-105), -200 (Moneyline)
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