South Carolina (0-1) vs South Carolina State (0-0)
Game Info: Friday, November 8, 2024 at 7:00 pm (Colonial Life Arena)
The Line: Betting Odds: South Carolina -16 / South Carolina State +16 — Over/Under: 142
The South Carolina State Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks meet Friday in college basketball action from Colonial Life Arena. Here’s a South Carolina State vs South Carolina prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best South Carolina State vs South Carolina pick. We will examine:
The South Carolina State Bulldogs’ recent form and player performance
The South Carolina Gamecocks’ recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the South Carolina State Bulldogs
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the South Carolina Gamecocks
Recent betting trends in games played between South Carolina State and South Carolina
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the South Carolina State vs South Carolina game
South Carolina State Bulldogs Betting Preview
Last year the Bulldogs managed a 14-18 overall record but did better in the MEAC with a 9-5 run. That would put South Carolina State in third place behind Norfolk State and NC Central. The Bulldogs eventually lost to Delaware State in the first game of the MEAC Tournament.
In their first action of the year versus Morris College, South Carolina State had few issues. The Bulldogs scored 68 points in the first and a nice 69 in the second half on the way to a 137-55 blowout. Leading scorer Wilson Dubinsky managed 29 points with two rebounds.
South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Preview
Over on the South Carolina side, last year they posted a 26-8 overall run with a 13-5 record in SEC play. The Gamecocks finished behind Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Auburn in the standings. Their season would end with a First Round loss to Oregon in the NCAA Tournament.
The Gamecocks weren’t able to get off to a winning start this year. South Carolina blew a five-point halftime lead in an eventual 74-71 loss to North Florida on Monday. The Gamecocks’ Collin Murray-Boyles was the top scorer with 17 points and seven rebounds in the defeat.
Why the South Carolina Gamecocks will win
- South Carolina State has lost each of its last 10 road night games against non-conference opponents.
- South Carolina has won 17 of its last 18 night games against non-conference opponents at Colonial Life Arena.
- South Carolina State has lost the first half in eight of its last nine Friday night road games against non-conference opponents.
Why the South Carolina State Bulldogs will win
- South Carolina State has won seven of its last nine night games.
- South Carolina has lost three of its last four night games.
South Carolina State vs South Carolina Prediction
I may lean toward South Carolina State but I’m probably not touching this one. The Bulldogs didn’t have to do much against Morris College in their opener, shooting a scorching 66.2 percent from the floor with 64.7 percent (22-of-34) from outside. SC State notched a dominant 37-19 effort on the boards but did have 16 turnovers.
As for South Carolina, they were outmuscled 43-37 in rebounding against a sneaky North Florida team and hit just 14 of their 25 free throws (56 percent). South Carolina State will likely give the Gamecocks a good effort on the boards as well; with a rebounding advantage, I like the Bulldogs to pull out the cover.