The South Carolina Gamecocks were the Cinderella of March Madness and the betting lines NCAA Basketball last spring. Head coach Frank Martin led USC to their first ever Final Four to cap off the ultimate dream season. The 2017-18 season has proven to be midnight for the Cinderella Gamecocks however. For head coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats every season is a potential dream season with the Final Four as an expectation. South Carolina hosts Kentucky on Tuesday night in a key Southeastern Conference matchup.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Date and Time: Tuesday, January 16, 2018, 9 p.m. ET
Location: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
NCAA Basketball Odds at SBG: Kentucky -3
Wildcats vs. Gamecocks TV Coverage: ESPN
The South Carolina Gamecocks have failed to maintain momentum and value with the betting lines NCAA Basketball this season. South Carolina is 11-6 straight up but just 7-8-1 against the spread. The Gamecocks are just 2-3 straight up in SEC games. USC is 3-3 against the spread at home. The Gamecocks have gone under the total in 11 out of 16 games. South Carolina has been in bad form lately with just two payouts in their last seven games.
USC has gone under the total in five out of their last six games. South Carolina is coming off a 64-57 win and payout at Georgia. South Carolina is a one-dimensional team that ranks 264th in the nation for scoring offense but an impressive 33rd for scoring defense. Junior forward Chris Silva is the top Gamecock. Silva is averaging a team best 14.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
The Kentucky Wildcats are 14-3 straight up and 8-8 against the spread. The Wildcats are 4-1 straight up in SEC play so far. Kentucky is 2-1 against the spread on the road. The Wildcats went under the total in all three road games. Kentucky is coming off a 74-67 win and payout at Vanderbilt. The Wildcats have gone under the total in four out of their last five games. Kentucky ranks 92nd in the nation for scoring offense and 114th for scoring defense. Kentucky ranks a disturbing 261st nationally for free throw percentage. Freshman forward Kevin Knox leads Kentucky with 14.2 points per game.
Matchup to Watch
Frank Martin’s South Carolina defense should be in top form for this calendar marked high profile matchup. The Gamecocks are also the better rebounding team. The question is can South Carolina garner enough offense to pull off the upset.
Kentucky has dominated the betting lines NCAA Basketball in their head to head series with South Carolina. The Wildcats come away with the money in nine out of their last 11 games with the Gamecocks including four straight. South Carolina and Kentucky have gone over the total in their last two games. Kentucky has paid out in four of their last five visits to Columbia including two straight.
Wildcats vs. Gamecocks NCAA Basketball Picks
Kentucky is the proven commodity with the public betting NCAA Basketball in this matchup. South Carolina has not built a compelling enough case for support this season. Kentucky is plenty used to winning in hostile environments as they demonstrated at Vandy on Saturday.
NCAA Basketball Betting Pick: Kentucky Wildcats -3
NCAA Basketball Betting Score Prediction: Kentucky 69, South Carolina 55