Frank Martin is one of the best college coaches out there that not many is talking about. Martin, however, would rather have wins than clout, so expect him to prepare the South Carolina Gamecocks well for a war with No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers, who are eyeing to sustain their unbeaten run in SEC play. Will the Vols avoid an upset loss? O will the Gamecocks score their biggest win of the season?
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Betting Preview for the Tennessee Volunteers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks College Basketball Game on January 29, 2019
Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia
When: Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 6:30 PM ET
Line: Tennessee Volunteers (odds) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Tennessee Volunteers (18-1 Overall / 6-0 Conference)
The Volunteers were among the SEC teams who had a good day during the SEC-Big 12 challenge last Saturday, as the nation’s top-ranked team defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers in Knoxville, 83-66. The Vols’ top two players in Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield scored 19 and 14 points, respectively, but it was Lamonte Turner’s night for the Vols. Turner capitalized on a rare start and scattered a game-high 23 points on 8-for-10 shooting with five 3-pointers. It’s one reason why the Vols’ offense has been deadly this season. There are other players capable of stepping up to take away some of the focus away from Williams and Schofield. That said, Williams could have a huge game ahead of him in Columbia, as the Gamecocks are only 224th in the nation with 74.2 points allowed per game. Williams is the SEC’s top scorer with 20.2 points per contest.
The Volunteers are 5-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last six road games.
Betting on the South Carolina Gamecocks (10-9 Overall / 5-1 Conference)
After scoring a resume-boosting 80-77 win over the No. 16 Auburn Tigers on the road last week, it felt like a party for the Gamecocks. However, the fun times came to an abrupt end when South Carolina got ambushed in Stillwater, losing to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 74-70. Poor shooting in the face of Oklahoma State’s pressure defense played a big part in South Carolina’s loss. The Gamecocks shot just 34.4 percent from the field in the first half and finished the game with a 38.8 percent clip from the floor. Even with that kind of offense in their last game, it would be foolish to underestimate what South Carolina is capable of doing against Tennessee. For one, the Gamecocks have already victimized two ranked teams this season in Auburn and No. 14 Mississippi State Bulldogs (87-82 OT) on Jan. 8. South Carolina plays slow, and that will be crucial against a high-scoring team like the Vols. The Gamecocks are 26th in the nation in adjusted tempo with 72.7 possessions per 40 minutes.
The Gamecocks are 3-0 ATS in their last three games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
Tennessee wins, 79-72.
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