2005 Season Summary
The South Carolina Gamecocks finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 20-13 straight up, which included a mark of 7-9 in the Southeastern Conference, placing them in fourth place in the SEC East Division.
Against the spread, South Carolina finished with a mark of 15-16. The Gamecocks had an epic free fall at the tail end of the regular season as they got the cash in just one of their final eight games. The then lost in the first round of the SEC tourney to Mississippi both SU&ATS, before making a fantastic showing in the NIT as they went a perfect 5-0 SU, but just 3-2 ATS as they took the crown with a 60-57 win over St. Joseph’s as 1-point chalks.
South Carolina’s NIT success would certainly not be forgotten by gamblers, who always appreciate a recent winner. The Gamecocks NIT title and profitable post season left a good taste in the mouths of gamblers and they would certainly have the Gamecocks on the top of their lists for serious consideration. This in turn, however, would threaten to deplete South Carolina’s overall board value.
Stumbling out of the gate
South Carolina opened the season with an 87-62 win at Western Carolina as 11.5-point chalks. That was then followed by an 85-73 home win over Toledo as 12-point chalks for a push. But South Carolina then went on to beat Alaska Anchorage 65-60 as 15.5-point road overlays as they began stumbling out of the gate. That was followed by a 62-56 neutral court win over Monmouth-NJ as 14.5-point overlays and then an 89-92 overtime loss to Marquette as 6-point chalks. After a 77-55 blowout home win and cover over NC-Greensboro as 20.5-point chalks, the Gamecocks went on to lost at Clemson 63-82 as 6-point dogs for their fifth failure against the board in ix games.
Problems continued
South Carolina next took a game off the board and scored a 68-54 win over Winthrop. They next scored a 73-43 blowout win over Wofford as 16-point chalks but then their problems continued.
South Carolina traveled to Temple and lost 50-63 as 3-point dogs. That was then followed by a 51-58 home loss to Pitt as 2.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 65-35 home win over Detroit as 12.5-point chalks and then an unlined 81-46 home win over South Carolina State.
Back on the board in their SEC opener, South Carolina lost at home to Tennessee 69-76 as 4.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 63-68 loss at Ole Miss as 2.5-point chalks and then a 61-64 overtime loss to Georgia as 8-point home chalks for a fifth loss in six games against the board, and an overall mark of 4-9-1 ATS to begin the season.
Bargain values
South Carolina’s poor start had killed off much of their appeal with gamblers, making them bargain values beginning with a 66-64 overtime win at Vanderbilt as 5.5-point dogs. That was then followed buy a 78-80 loss at Kentucky as 6-point dogs and then a 68-62 home win over eventual national champion Florida as 11.5-point dogs.
The Gamecocks briefly reverted back to their losing was with back to back losses SU&ATS at Tennessee and Arkansas but got back into the black with an impressive 71-67 win at Florida as 11.5-point dogs. That was followed by an 83-61 win over Mississippi State as 11-point chalks and then a 67-56 home win over Alabama as 5-point chalks for a sixth payoff in eight games.
Backsliding away
South Carolina ended the regular season with a record of 1-4 both SU&ATS as they were backsliding away and unwanted by the gambling masses.
Caught fire in post season
South Carolina lulled their opponents, gamblers, and the oddsmakers to sleep with that poor finish as they caught fire in post season, making the SEC title game of the tourney before losing 47-49 to Florida as 5-point dogs. They then went on to the NIT and scored five consecutive wins and covers, taking the title over Michigan as the Gamecocks finished with nine consecutive covers in post season to end the year on a high note.