South Carolina vs Illinois prediction & betting tips - Dec. 31 - Citrus Bowl

The South Carolina Gamecocks take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET in the Citrus Bowl. The game can be seen on ABC.

South Carolina (9-3) ended the season with a 17-14 win over Clemson and ended the year on a six-game winning streak. Illinois (9-3) ended the season with a 38-28 win over Northwestern.

South Carolina vs Illinois: Preview

The Gamecocks are a nine-point favorite to defeat Illinois while the over/under is set at 48 points.

South Carolina narrowly missed out on the playoffs as the Gamecocks were the hottest team at the end of the college football season. South Carolina will miss some key players as the players missing are as follows:

• Robby Ashford, QB (transfer portal)
• Connor Cox, TE (transfer portal)
• CJ Adams, WR (transfer portal)
• Tyshawn Russell, WR (transfer portal)
• Reid Mikeska, TE (transfer portal)
• Mohamed Kaba, LB (transfer portal)
• Jamaal Whyce, DL (transfer portal)
• Ni Mansell, iOL (transfer portal)
• Bangally Kamara, LB (transfer portal)

The Gamecocks will start La'Norris Sellers who will be a quarterback to watch in 2025. Sellers threw for 2,274 yards, 17 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while rushing for 655 yards and 7 touchdowns. Raheim Sanders is also a key part of the offense as he rushed for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Illinois, meanwhile, will be playing its starters as only three players are in the portal and won't play:

• Kevin Wigenton II, OL (transfer portal)
• Enyce Sledge, DL (transfer portal)
• Nate Guinn, TE (transfer portal)

The Fighting Illini are led by Luke Altmyer who threw for 2,543 yards, 21 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Pat Bryant is the top receiver who has caught 54 passes for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Sellers will have a chance to shine in a bowl game and give South Carolina fans confidence going into the 2025 college football season. The Gamecocks' offense will be able to have a ton of success against Illinois here, as Sellers will be able to throw and run the ball effectively.

The Gamecocks, meanwhile, have a good defense as South Carolina will be able to limit Illinois' offense and win the Citrus Bowl by 10+ points.

Prediction: South Carolina 34, Ilinois 21

South Carolina vs Illinois: Betting Tips

Tip 1: South Carolina -9 (-112)

Tip 2: Over 48 (-110)

Tip 3: South Carolina -4.5 first half (-110)