NCAA Basketball Matchup: Buckeyes vs Gamecocks
Ohio State took their first loss of the season last Saturday in Lawrence.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
12:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Ohio State -14.5
Over/Under: 129.5
The Buckeyes simply couldn’t handle the Jayhawks without Jared Sullinger on the floor. Sullinger returned for Wednesday’s game, and he will probably play in this one. South Carolina would love nothing more than to upset the Buckeyes and put their name on the map nationally. Can the Gamecocks stun the college basketball world?
The Buckeyes downed South Carolina 79-57 last year in Columbus. This year’s team has loads of talent, but they haven’t put it all together just yet. Last year Ohio State had some great senior leaders, and the team is still adjusting to life without them.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Jared Sullinger is a beast down low, and as long as he is healthy he’ll probably get his usual double-double in this one. William Buford and DeShaun Thomas give the Buckeyes two perimeter scorers. Aaron Craft is one of the best on-the-ball defenders in college basketball. Ohio State has been inconsistent from the three-point line, but they have shot it very well from inside the arc.
South Carolina has won their last two games, including a big win at Clemson. The Gamecocks offense has been extremely inconsistent this year, but they have been improving on the defensive end of the floor. This is a young team that has plenty of talent, but they haven’t developed great team chemistry. Bruce Ellington is back with the team in limited fashion right now, but he is splitting time between the basketball and football teams. The Gamecocks are going to have to find a way to generate some half court offense in this one.
Ohio State may have lost its first road game of the season last weekend, but don’t expect them to lose their second straight away from home.
Prediction: Ohio State 74 South Carolina 57
