South Carolina vs LSU Prediction 2/18/25 College Basketball Picks

The South Carolina Gamecocks and the LSU Tigers meet Tuesday in college basketball action from Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Here’s a South Carolina vs LSU prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best South Carolina vs LSU pick. We will examine: 

The South Carolina Gamecocks’ recent form and player performance

The LSU Tigers’ recent form and player performance 

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the South Carolina Gamecocks

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the LSU Tigers

Recent betting trends in games played between South Carolina and LSU

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the South Carolina vs LSU game

South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Preview

The Gamecocks started the year on a nice run, but it’s been a pretty futile effort in the 2025 calendar year so far. South Carolina went 10-3 in their first 13 outings, beating South Carolina State, Towson, Mercer, Virginia Tech, Boston College, East Carolina, USC Upstate, Clemson, Radford, and Presbyterian along the way. Since then the Gamecocks have hit the skids though, losing to Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi State, Georgia, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Florida in succession. That gives the Gamecocks a 10-15 overall run through their first 25 games this year so far. 

In the Florida game over the weekend, South Carolina entered the second half with a 37-33 deficit. The Gamecocks didn’t end up getting any closer than that on a 51-34 run and took the loss in blowout fashion 88-67. Jacobi Wright was the team’s leading scorer with 13 points and four rebounds. Both Nick Pringle (three rebounds; two steals) and Collin Murray-Boyles (two steals; two blocks; two rebounds) chipped in 12 points apiece in the loss as well. 

LSU Tigers Betting Preview

Over on the LSU side, they similarly started out well this year but haven’t found much success in 2025 thus far. The Tigers went 11-2 to start the year though, beating LA Monroe, Alabama State, Kansas State, Charleston Southern, UCF, Northwestern State, Florida State, Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson, New Orleans, and MS Valley State in that time. It’s been just two wins over Arkansas and Oklahoma since then. Otherwise, the Tigers have fallen versus Vanderbilt, Missouri, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama, Auburn, Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Arkansas in succession. That gives LSU a 13-12 overall run through 25 games so far this season. 

Matched up against Oklahoma on Saturday, the Tigers held a 35-29 deficit in the locker room. LSU fired back in the second half though, hitting a 53-44 run for the comeback victory 82-79 in the end. Cam Carter was the star of the show in that one, posting 29 points with four rebounds and two assists. Daimion Collins wasn’t too far behind with 22 points, four blocks, and four rebounds, while Dji Bailey added 13 points with five boards and three assists. 

Why the LSU Tigers will win

• South Carolina has lost each of its last 13 games against Conference opponents.
• LSU has won nine of its last 10 night games at Pete Maravich Assembly Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the South Carolina Gamecocks will win

• LSU has lost each of its last six night games against the Southeastern Conference.
• South Carolina has won 32 of its last 40 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• The road team has won the first half in four of the last five games between South Carolina and LSU.

South Carolina vs LSU Prediction 

I’ll stick with LSU. The Tigers finally got a win over a pretty decent Oklahoma team in a road matchup this past weekend. LSU played pretty well in that one despite a 43-28 rebounding deficit (14-4 offensive) and just 17-of-30 (56.7 percent) from the line. The Tigers hit 48.2 percent from the field and had just nine turnovers, which helped them eke out the much-needed win. LSU had been below 63 points in three of their previous four games, so the 82 points were a nice outcome. 

As for South Carolina, they coughed up a whopping 60.4 percent shooting to Florida in their latest road defeat. The Gamecocks also had 13 turnovers for 21 Gators points, which didn’t help matters. South Carolina has been below 70 points in 12 of their last 13 games, so if the Tigers can find some offense I don’t think the Gamecocks will keep a cover pace.