Wildcats vs Gamecocks NCAAB Handicapping Prediction
Things do not stack up well for South Carolina (9-12) in this home game, as they are facing a Kentucky (22-1) team that is ranked #1 in the nation, has already beaten them by 15 points this season, and on top of that the Gamecocks have lost 6 of their last 7 games.
Venue/ Stadium: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
Time/Date: 6 PM EST Saturday, February 4, 2011
NCAA Odds From: BetOnline
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): Kentucky -12
Over/Under: 129
No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Preview
NCAAB lines have Kentucky as big 12-point away favorites with a total of 129.
In their last games Kentucky beat Tennessee 69-44 while South Carolina lost to Florida 74-66.
This season Kentucky is 7-14-1 ATS and they have an O/U record of 7-14-1 and South Carolina is 8-8 ATS with an O/U record of 8-8.
The Gamecocks will have to rely on their D in this game facing a UK team that ranks 23rd in the nation in points per game, as they offense only ranks 277th in the nation. Also, the Gamecocks may struggle to score facing Kentucky who leads the nation in defensive FG%.
The Wildcats have won 15 straight games.
South Carolina will have to key on freshman stud Anthony Davis (13.5 ppg 10.2 rpg), who is a 6’10” F that leads the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding. UK has 6 players that are averaging 9.8 ppg or more and they have a solid inside-outside game. Davis, Doron Lamb (13.3 ppg), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (12.8 ppg), and Terrence Jones (12.3 ppg) will be a major handful for the Gamecocks, as all these guys can light it up.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
USC will need good games from F Malik Cooke (12.7 ppg) and G Bruce Ellington (10.4 ppg), as these are the only 2 averaging in double figures.
Kentucky is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation behind Davis and South Carolina, who only rank 287th in the nation in rebounds per game, must man up as a team and keep the Wildcats from dominating the glass.
The Gamecocks played solid D in their loss to Florida, but their offense struggled. To have any chance to pull of the upset they will have to play great on both ends of the court.
In some betting trends for this SEC match up Kentucky is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record, and they have an Under record of 7-0 in their last 7 games as a road favorite.
South Carolina is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall, and they have an Over record of 5-2 in their last 7 games as a home underdog.
Pick: UK has not been a great ATS team against losing teams, but I think they will crush the Gamecocks again, as the Wildcats will win this game and cover the big 12-point spread.
