USC Upstate vs South Carolina Prediction College Basketball Picks 12/14/24

The USC Upstate Spartans and the South Carolina Gamecocks meet Saturday in college basketball action from the Colonial Life Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a USC Upstate vs. South Carolina prediction.

USC Upstate Recap

The USC Upstate Spartans come into this game looking to build on a 74-68 win over Western Carolina last time out to improve to 4-8 on the year. After this game, the Spartans will take on South Carolina State at home.

Spartans Looking For Third Straight Win

Mister Dean leads the Spartans in scoring and rebounding with 15.7 PPG and 5.6 RPG while Brit Harris has 11.6 PPG with 4.2 RPG and 3.1 APG on the year. Karmani Gregory has 10.8 PPG with a team-high 3.8 APG to lead USC Upstate in assists while Carmelo Adkins has 10.6 PPG with 4.5 RPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for USC Upstate up to this point in the year. As a team, USC Upstate is averaging 78.8 PPG on 47.4% shooting from the field, 31.1% from three, and 68.2% from the foul line this season.

Why the USC Upstate Spartans will win

• South Carolina has lost three of its last four day games.

South Carolina Recap

The South Carolina Gamecocks come into this one looking to build on their 75-68 win over East Carolina last time out. After this game, South Carolina will welcome Clemson to town.

Gamecocks Win Third In A Row

Collin Murray-Boyles leads the Gamecocks in scoring and rebounding with 16.2 PPG and 9.4 RPG while Jamarii Thomas has 12.7 PPG with a team-high 3.2 APG to lead South Carolina in the assist department this season. Jacobi Wright has 10.7 PPG with 2.8 APG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for South Carolina up to this point in the year while Zachary Davis has 9.8 PPG with 4.4 RPG and Nick Pringle has 8.3 PPG and 7 RPG as well this season. As a team, South Carolina is averaging 75.1 PPG on 46.2% shooting from the field, 36% from three, and 66% from the foul line this season.

Why the South Carolina Gamecocks will win

• USC Upstate has lost each of its last 11 games against the Southeastern Conference.
• South Carolina has won 25 of its last 26 games against non-conference opponents at Colonial Life Arena.

USC Upstate vs. South Carolina Prediction

I’m with South Carolina here. I’m a bit concerned with a potential look-ahead spot to Clemson on deck, but South Carolina can’t afford to slip up and lose any sort of momentum going into that game against the Tigers. The Spartans just don’t have it in the tank to hang with South Carolina for a full 40 minutes as the Gamecocks are a solid team offensively and in my opinion, a pretty underrated defensive unit as well. Give me the Gamecocks.