Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Preview
Where: Colonial Life Arena — Columbia, South Carolina
When: Tuesday, February 7, 2017, 6:30 PM ET
Line: Alabama Crimson Tide (+8) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (-8); total: 130.0 – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: SECN
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Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (13-9, 6-4 SEC)
Alabama’s reeling right now, and so is its supposedly solid defense. The Crimson Tide have lost two games in a row, giving up 82 or more points in both while going 0-2 against the spread.
The perimeter defense was in shambles against Auburn on Saturday, allowing the Tigers to shoot 50.9 percent as a team, including 13 three-pointers. This lack of defensive effort comes as a surprise to many, considering Alabama was only yielding fewer than 65 points on the season prior to that game.
On offense, head coach Avery Johnson continued to receive quality production from his first-year pair of Braxton Key and Dazon Ingram. They’re the only players in the team averaging double figures in points this season.
Key leads the way with 12.1 per game, while Ingram is tallying at least 10. The former, in particular, has been sensational in the last six games, averaging 17.2 points during that stretch.
Betting on the South Carolina Gamecocks (19-4, 9-1 SEC)
Nineteenth-ranked South Carolina enters this game as winners of its last four and nine of 10 (6-4 ATS). This team will not just be looking to stay hot, but also reach the 20-win plateau for the second-consecutive season here.
Much of the Gamecock’s recent success has been predicated on the defensive end, where they currently allow the eight-lowest points (61.5) in the nation. Their D has been more tenacious in SEC play, forcing at least 15 turnovers in each conference game.
Meanwhile, the offense has thrived mainly through senior guard Sindarius Thornwell, who’s put up top-level numbers since returning from a six-game suspension. He’s averaging 19.3 points and 7.1 rebounds across 10 games.
Writer’s Prediction
South Carolina (-8) wins and covers.
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