LSU Survives, Beats South Carolina

LSU overcame a three-score first-half deficit to scrape out a 36-33 victory on the road against South Carolina.

The Gamecocks nearly pushed the game into overtime, but Alex Herrera's 49-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide as time expired.

The No. 16 Tigers entered Saturday’s contest as six-point favorites and closed -260 to win SU.

But South Carolina was in control early on, jumping out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. LSU didn’t take its first lead until Garrett Nussmeier’s 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mason Taylor gave the Tigers a 29-24 advantage.

Midway through the final period, South Carolina had jumped ahead by four when Nick Emmanwori jumped an errant Nussmeier throw and housed it for a pick-six. However, an unnecessary roughness penalty wiped the defensive score off the board and South Carolina’s offense — which lost starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers to injury during the contest — sputtered down the stretch.

Nussmeier finished the game 24-for-40 with 285 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. It marked the first time he finished below 300 yards, leaving prop bettors on the over (-105) perhaps ruing their luck.