USC Upstate (5-22) vs Gardner Webb (9-15)
February 15, 2025 at 03:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: USC Upstate +5.5 — Over/Under: 161
The Gardner-Webb Bulldogs and the USC Upstate Spartans meet Saturday in college basketball action from GB Hodge Center. Here’s a Gardner-Webb vs USC Upstate prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Gardner-Webb vs USC Upstate pick. We will examine:
The Gardner-Webb Bulldogs’ recent form and player performance
The USC Upstate Spartans’ recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the USC Upstate Spartans
Recent betting trends in games played between Gardner-Webb and USC Upstate
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Gardner-Webb vs USC Upstate game
Gardner-Webb Bulldogs Betting Preview
It’s been a rough year for the Bulldogs so far and they’re mired far below the .500 mark. Gardner-Webb went just 4-8 in their first 12 games, losing to Tennessee, Pitt, Charlotte, Belmont, Wofford, NC Central, Queens U, and Georgia Southern in that time. A 3-1 run came next with wins over East Carolina, Presbyterian, and Winthrop (with a loss to Charleston Southern), then a 2-6 stretch. The wins in that time came over USC Upstate and Longwood. Otherwise, it was losses to High Point, Radford, UNC Asheville, Winthrop, UNC Asheville again, and Charleston Southern. That gives the Bulldogs a rough 9-15 overall run so far this year.
In the Charleston Southern matchup last weekend, the Bulldogs came out of the break with a two-point deficit. Gardner-Webb didn’t end up getting any closer on a 41-36 deficit from there and took the loss 79-72 in the end. Jamaine Mann had 30 points with seven rebounds in the loss. Darryl Simmons had 14 points with three rebounds and four assists, while Jacob Hudson came off the bench for six points and two rebounds in 22 minutes of work on the floor.
USC Upstate Spartans Betting Preview
Over on the USC Upstate side, their wins have mostly been few and far between this year during a rough campaign. The Spartans opened on a 4-8 stretch, taking losses to NC State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington, East Tennessee State, Queens U, Iowa, and Coastal Carolina in that time. USC Upstate has just one win over Presbyterian since then. Otherwise, it’s been losses to South Carolina, South Carolina State, Youngstown State, Winthrop, Radford, UNC Asheville, Gardner-Webb, High Point, Longwood, Charleston Southern, Radford, Presbyterian, Winthrop, and UNC Asheville in succession. That gives the Spartans a pretty ugly 5-22 overall run through their first 27 games so far this season.
Matched up against UNC Asheville at home on Wednesday, the Spartans came out of the break looking up at a 42-42 tie on the scoreboard. USC Upstate couldn’t hold it from there on a 50-43 run and took the loss 92-85 in the end. Leading the team during the losing effort were Karmani Gregory and Mister Dean, each with 23 points and a combined seven assists. Brit Harris came off the bench for double-digits on 11 points, four rebounds, and one assist in 17 minutes of workout on the court.
Why the USC Upstate Spartans will win
- Gardner-Webb has lost eight of its last nine road games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- USC Upstate has won three of its last four day games against Gardner-Webb at G.B. Hodge Center.
- USC Upstate has won the first half in three of its last four day games against Gardner-Webb at G.B. Hodge Center.
Why the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs will win
- USC Upstate has lost each of its last 10 games against the Big South Conference.
- Gardner-Webb has won each of its last three day games against USC Upstate.
- Gardner-Webb has won the first half in three of its last four day games against USC Upstate.
Gardner-Webb vs USC Upstate Prediction
I might take a stab at USC Upstate here. Probably not touching it, though. The Spartans were able to hang with a good UNC Asheville team in the first half of their latest loss, eventually shooting a nice 47.1 percent from the field with just six turnovers. USC Upstate has scored well over their last pair with 180 combined points. The trouble is, they’ve given up a combined 197 on the other side.
USC Upstate took a loss 97-68 on the road the last time these teams met up on January 18. The Spartans need to improve the shooting (40.7 percent) and cut down the mistakes (15 turnovers for 22 Bulldogs points), but I think they’ve got an outside shot in the home rematch.