The South Carolina Gamecocks take on the Clemson Tigers in Clemson, SC. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Clemson is favored by -12.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -900. The total is set at 141 points.
Here’s my South Carolina vs. Clemson predictions and college basketball picks for December 16, 2025.
South Carolina vs Clemson Prediction
My Pick: Clemson -12.5 (Play to -13)
My South Carolina vs Clemson best bet is on the Tigers to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
South Carolina vs. Clemson Odds
| South Carolina Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12.5 -115 | 141 -110o / -110u | +600 |
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12.5 -105 | 141 -110o / -110u | -900 |
- South Carolina vs Clemson spread: Clemson -12.5
- South Carolina vs Clemson over/under: 141 points
- South Carolina vs Clemson moneyline: South Carolina +595, Clemson -900
South Carolina vs Clemson College Basketball Betting Preview
South Carolina Basketball
After a phenomenal 2023-2024 season for Lamont Paris and South Carolina, the Gamecocks took a big step backward last season.
Some of that was just the sheer nature of being a young team in one of the most talented conferences in college basketball history, but there were definitely a few games South Carolina let slip away.
The 2025-26 season was always going to be important for the Gamecocks to get things back on track, but it hasn't been a very encouraging start. The Gamecocks have yet to beat a power-conference opponent, taking close losses to Butler, Northwestern and Virginia Tech.
This matchup against Clemson is the last opportunity for Paris' team to notch a resume-building win in the non-conference before SEC play begins.
To do exactly that, South Carolina needs to be much more efficient offensively.
The Gamecocks rank outside the top 100 in KenPom's offensive efficiency, and absolutely nothing is coming easy on the offensive end.
Meechie Johnson returned to Columbia after spending last season at Ohio State. It was big to get a key cog back, but he can't do it all on his own.
Guys like Eli Ellis and Kobe Knox need to step on that end and start knocking down open shots more consistently.
On the defensive side of the floor, it's been a bit up-and-down, and South Carolina will have its hands full against a talented and unselfish Clemson offensive attack.
For South Carolina to have any chance at pulling off the upset on the road, it must do the little things right and beat the Tigers to all of the 50/50 balls.
Clemson Basketball
Brad Brownell has a really good basketball team once again in 2025-26, but the Tigers have missed some big opportunities thus far in the non-conference.
Clemson had a second-half lead at Alabama and led BYU for most of the game at Madison Square Garden, but it came up just short in each. Those were two chances at massive resume wins that would've traveled all the way to Selection Sunday.
Tuesday night marks an opportunity to get a win over an in-state rival and get back on track as ACC play approaches.
The Tigers rank inside the top 45 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom, a sign of a balanced team that can get it done on both sides of the floor.
Brownell's team is also rebounding the basketball at an elite level, so I don't expect the Gamecocks to have many second-chance opportunities in this one.
Dillon Hunter is one of the most experienced guards in all of college basketball and continues to knock down big shots late in the shot clock when the Tigers are in a pinch.
I also think wing RJ Godfrey has an opportunity to really use his length to his advantage in this one and create some problems for the South Carolina frontcourt.
South Carolina vs. Clemson Betting Analysis
The Tigers have revenge on their minds in this one after losing a close one late to South Carolina last season in overtime.
I think there's a pretty wide talent gap between these two teams, and I expect Clemson to put that on display at Littlejohn Coliseum on Tuesday.
South Carolina has struggled to knock down shots consistently all season, and the Tigers play a style of defense that forces opponents to earn it in the half-court while not surrendering easy baskets.
It's always difficult laying a double-digit number in a rivalry game, but I'm comfortable doing it here, given I anticipate an inspired effort from Clemson across the board.
Give me the Tigers to win and cover.
My Pick: Clemson -12.5 (Play to -13)
