In South Carolina, there’s already buzz about a postseason trip. CBS Sports has rolled out its preseason bowl projections and put the Gamecocks against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve. The national write up points out that Michigan defeated Alabama 19-13 in last season’s ReliaQuest Bowl and that Nebraska had to knock off Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl to finish 7-6 and snap a long bowl drought, so fans are wondering whether a Florida trip is really on the cards.
Friends who gather on Main Street or at Five Points are already swapping travel tips for Tampa, and a few are sneaking looks at out-of-state punting options for wider odds. While states like Florida don’t cater to local sports betting platforms, sportsbook offers in FL are still rife given the popularity of sports culture there. With wide-ranging odds, more dynamic markets for football matches, and attractive bonuses for new bettors, more than a few local punting enthusiasts are being drawn to these platforms.
South Carolina closed 2024 at 9-4 and opens this season ranked No. 13; the preseason AP poll has ten SEC teams in the top 25 with Texas at number one and the Gamecocks among heavyweights like Georgia, Alabama and LSU. Nebraska’s first bowl win since 2016 gives that program hope, and a clash with an SEC contender would be a real measuring stick. People in Lincoln see it as validation that their rebuild is ahead of schedule,e and they’ve been chattering about airfare and ticket allotments just as much as South Carolina fans.
The ReliaQuest Bowl is scheduled for December 31 at noon Eastern at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and matches an SEC team with a Big Ten opponent. Last year, Michigan edged Alabama 19-13, and the game drew a crowd of more than sixty thousand, making it an attractive destination for programs just outside the playoff.
A possible South Carolina appearance has restaurant owners and travel agents in Columbia daydreaming about a wave of garnet and black jerseys strolling down Bayshore Boulevard, and Nebraska fans are equally excited at the prospect of swapping snow for palm trees. Florida tourism officials would certainly welcome the economic boost.
Projections at this stage are fragile. Injuries, upsets and conference standings will rearrange bowl lineups, and South Carolina still has to survive trips to Athens and Tuscaloosa and a home game against Clemson. Nebraska’s path through the Big Ten includes visits to Oregon and Penn State.
Even so, the mere mention of a New Year’s Eve bowl in Florida has given fans and radio hosts something to chew on and it underscores the perception that South Carolina is on the rise; talk show callers mention how long it’s been since the Gamecocks played in a meaningful bowl and they’re eager to see if this season’s team can finally break through.
For a program that hasn’t enjoyed a New Year’s bowl atmosphere in years, being in the conversation feels like progress. The Gamecocks feature a dynamic quarterback in LaNorris Sellers and a defense that forced 24 turnovers last season, while Nebraska returns a veteran offensive line and an aggressive defensive coordinator.