The Tennessee Volunteers take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, SC., on Tuesday, March 3. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
Tennessee is favored by 9.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -450. The over/under sits at 144.5 total points.
Here’s my Tennessee vs. South Carolina prediction and college basketball picks for Tuesday, March 3.
Tennessee vs South Carolina Prediction
My Pick: South Carolina +9.5
My Tennessee vs. South Carolina best bet is on the Gamecocks 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.
Tennessee vs South Carolina Odds
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -105 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | -450 |
| South Carolina Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -115 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | +350 |
- Tennessee vs South Carolina Spread: Tennessee -9.5, South Carolina +9.5
- Tennessee vs South Carolina Over/Under: 144.5 Points
- Tennessee vs South Carolina Moneyline: Tennessee -450, South Carolina +350
Tennessee vs South Carolina College Basketball Betting Preview
Tennessee Basketball
Tennessee comes in at just 22nd in the AP Poll after a pair of losses. The loss to Alabama at home is almost understandable, but the fact that it came after a bad loss to Missouri is surprising.
Now, we question what the response will be to break out of this two-game slump.
Tennessee was once a sure-fire top seed in the tournament, but now it's looking at a scenario no better than a 4-seed.
A strong finish to the season, with games against South Carolina and Vanderbilt before heading into the SEC Tournament, will go a long way toward improving that seeding.
The Vols' biggest strength is their size — not necessarily their actual size, but in how they attack the basket. While they rank 39th in average height, they're the No. 1 offensive rebounding team in the nation. South Carolina, meanwhile, ranks 308th.
The Volunteers are also 136th in experience, which makes sense given their roster is loaded with a mix of talent.
From seniors Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Jaylen Carey to freshmen Nate Ament and DeWayne Brown, multiple options on both offense and defense make for a potent team looking to get into the tournament on a hot streak.
However, Ament won't play in this game.
South Carolina Basketball
South Carolina is looking ahead to next season, but it hasn’t slowed its effort. After suffering losses to Georgia, Kentucky and Florida in three of their last four, the Gamecocks look to face another tournament-bound team Tuesday night.
They'll have an edge at the free-throw line, and that’s good because this team has found a way to get to the line at a solid rate. They also rank 28th nationally in limiting offensive turnovers.
The Gamecocks' lineup features four players who average double digits, namely Meechie Johnson, who pours in 17 PPG. But if their shots don’t fall, they’ll have trouble getting second-chance opportunities.
Tennessee vs South Carolina Pick, Betting Analysis
This matchup is between two teams that are in completely different forms. The Gamecocks have won just three games in conference play. Of those losses, only three have been by fewer than nine points.
Their losses have come by an average of 12.7 points, including six by at least 19 points.
Tennessee had been 10-4 in-conference before two straight losses brought its conference record to 10-6. But this looks like a complete mismatch.
These two teams play a similar offensive style, but Tennessee does a much better job. The Vols also have a drastic edge on defense.
Tennessee has won 10 games in SEC play, four by at least nine points. But those other six games were a bit closer than expected.
We can also take solace in the fact that South Carolina does a better job of limiting turnovers. If it can win the free-throw battle and continue to take care of the basketball, it’ll have a chance to compete here.
Plus, Ament, Tennessee's star freshman, is out for this game.
My Pick: South Carolina +9.5
