The Gamecock Scoop staff picks are back for the third year. Last season, Gamecock Scoop reporters Alan Cole They fought almost to the end and won the friendly competition for the second season in a row. Staff Writer Stephen Anderson ATS total won. Publisher of the season Caleb Alexander and staff writer
Perry McCarty will be looking for revenge. We will also be adding a “celebrity” picker each week this year. We will have a former Gamecock player make a selection each week. For those of you who are new to Gamecock Scoop, in addition to Gamecocks games, we will be picking the nine biggest games in the country each week. Around the middle of the year, we will be adding Perry's bottom games of the week to the list.
All rows are locked on Monday afternoon and may appear differently on publication day.
All game times are Eastern Time.
Our first guest picker for Week 0 is former Gamecock kicker Charlie Carpenter (02-05). After hanging up his cleats, Charlie joined the military and is now a multi-state real estate attorney based in Charlotte with an office in Greenville. Many of Charlotte's biggest athletes use Charlie to help them close deals, so if you need help, he's the man to go to.
Charlie's thoughts: If what they're broadcasting is garbage, why have Week 0? I'll watch MLB this weekend and watch about 30 minutes of FSU/GT.
#10 Florida State -10.5 vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland): 12:00 ESPN
Why you should watch:
It's the actual football game that matters. Unless you're a perverted gambler and follow the XFL or USFL, this is the first game you'll want to watch since Patrick Mahomes won his third Super Bowl last February (sorry if that spoils the final episode of Netflix's The Receiver). The Seminoles went 13-0 last season and won the ACC Championship, and are the preseason favorites to win the SEC. Will this be the school's final year in the ACC? Tech went 7-6 in his first full season under coach Brent Key, but can he take the next step in year two?
Montana State -11.5 @ University of New Mexico: 4:00 on FS1
New Mexico is in for a tough start as they open the season with a double-digit deficit at home against FCS Montana State, who, in fairness, are one of the best teams in the FCS, ranked No. 4 in the preseason.
Florida A&M -17.5 vs. Norfolk State (Atlanta): 7:30 p.m. on ABC
HBCU national champion FAMU enters the season ranked No. 25 in the FCS. They won the SWAC and then the Celebration Bowl last season under former Clemson University playmaker “Shotgun” Willie Simmons. They're starting their defense in prime time on ABC.
SMU -25 @ Nevada: 8:00 on CBSSN
Welcome to the ACC SMU. They were picked seventh in the preseason, the highest ranking of the league's three freshman teams. Rhett Lashlee is 18-9 in two seasons at SMU. Nevada is bringing in a new coach after a 2-10 season in 2023. Jeff Choate is the new head coach after three seasons as co-DC at Texas.
Delaware +40 @ Hawaii: 11:59 PM: Spectrum Sports PPV
Delaware State must be a terrible team to catch 40 passes against Hawaii. Brayden Shager, the 2023 starting quarterback for Hawaii, returns for 2024 after completing 63.2% of his passes for 3,542 yards and a 26-14 touchdown-to-int ratio last season. The Warriors' two top receivers in 2023, Pofele Ashlock (83 catches, 832 yards, 9 TDs) and Stephen McBride (63 catches, 1,024 yards, 9 TDs), also return.
Staff Picks Week 0
*The winning team is not included.
