Play the Odds: Arguing for a close game in Columbia

The topic was broached over an enormous slab of meat at Don Shula’s restaurant in Hoover, Ala.

The steaks were big. Soon, the stakes were, too.

An old friend and former co-worker — Braden Gall of Athlon Sports — was forecasting a South Carolina blowout victory over Texas A&M in next week’s college football season-opener.

I felt compelled to disagree. I acknowledge that South Carolina should be favored, but I didn’t see that game as a blowout despite A&M’s apparent issues.