The South Carolina Gamecocks take on the Florida Gators in Gainesville, FL. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Florida is favored by 22.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -10000. The total is set at 151.5 points.
Here’s my South Carolina vs. Florida prediction and college basketball picks for February 17, 2026.
South Carolina vs Florida Prediction
My Pick: South Carolina Under Team Total
My South Carolina vs Florida best bet is on the Gamecocks to stay under their team total. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
South Carolina vs. Florida Odds
| South Carolina Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+22.5 -102 | 151.5 -115 / -105 | +2400 |
| Florida Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-22.5 -120 | 151.5 -115 / -105 | -10000 |
- South Carolina vs Florida spread: Florida -22.5
- South Carolina vs Florida over/under: 151.5 points
- South Carolina vs Florida moneyline: South Carolina +2400, Florida -10000
South Carolina vs Florida College Basketball Betting Preview
I've decided to take a unique approach to betting this SEC matchup, as the data suggests the pick should be on South Carolina's team total under.
The Gamecocks rank outside the top 250 in average possession length, and a slow offense facing a quality defense makes this a negative stylistic matchup for South Carolina.
South Carolina does most of its damage inside the arc, but Florida ranks in the top five nationally in defending 2-point attempts. That takes away the Gamecocks’ most reliable scoring area, and they lack the perimeter attack to bail themselves out.
They rank near the bottom tier nationally in 3-point efficiency, so asking them to rely on outside shooting against a disciplined defense won't work in their favor.
Even when shots go up, Florida limits the damage. The Gators rank in the top 20 nationally in opponent effective field goal defense and top-five in defensive rebounding. In other words, if South Carolina misses the first look, there is unlikely to be a second one.
The Gamecocks aren’t strong at getting points from free throws either. Florida defends aggressively without fouling much, cutting off that avenue.
Florida makes scoring very difficult, thanks to a defense ranked fourth nationally in adjusted efficiency.
Opponents not only struggle to score but also to find comfortable possessions. The Gators are among the top 25 in controlling possession length, pushing teams late into the shot clock and forcing tough choices. This is a big problem for South Carolina since it already plays at a slow pace.
Florida’s defense adds another challenge: It doesn't play a fast, chaotic style. Instead, the Gators use a controlled, physical defense that makes opponents work hard in the half-court.
South Carolina ranks outside the top 100 in offensive efficiency, suggesting it isn't built to consistently break down defenses in the half-court. The Gamecocks also play at a below-average tempo offensively, which means possessions will be extremely limited.
Personnel matters here, too, as Florida has one of the tallest lineups in the country and defends the rim with length and activity. South Carolina lacks a reliable shot creator who can handle that size, so when inside shots get contested, its offense can stall.
The Gators will dominate from tip-to-finish, and the Gamecocks won't score enough to clear this team total.
My Pick: South Carolina Under Team Total
