The Arkansas Razorbacks’ seven-game win streak came into a screeching halt when they ran against No.1 Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday. Now that that game is behind them, the Hogs can turn their attention to improving their stock for the Big Dance when they take the road for the last time this regular season against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
For more college game previews, don’t miss our look at Wisconsin vs. Minnesota.
[sc:MarchMadness ]Arkansas Razorbacks vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Preview
Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia
When: Thursday, March 5, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Arkansas Razorbacks (-2) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (+2); total 142.5 – view all NCAA Basketball lines
Betting on the Arkansas Razorbacks
After getting bludgeoned by the Kentucky Wildcats, 84-67, on Saturday, Bobby Portis and crew will head to Columbia in search of a pick-me-up win against South Carolina.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Arkansas definitely have the psychological upper hand heading into this matchup with the Gamecocks, having already beaten South Carolina on February 3, 75-55. In that game, Portis put up one of his best games of the season, finishing with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Even when matched up against the giants of Kentucky, Portis still managed to come up with respectable numbers of 15 points and eight rebounds. With that being said, expect Portis to dominate South Carolina’s smaller lineup that boasts of just three players above 6-7 compared to Kentucky’s seven. Portis is Arkansas’ leader in points and rebounds with 17.5, and 8.5 per game, respectively.
Led by Portis’ exploits, Arkansas has become one of the highest scoring teams in the nation this season. The Razorbacks are averaging 79.1 PPG, good for ninth in the nation. They’re also seventh overall in assists with the Razorbacks dishing out 16.9 dimes per game.
Arkansas is 3-2 ATS this season after a loss.
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Betting on the South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina finally broke out of its shooting slump just in time to prevent losing its third-straight game, as the Gamecocks beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday, 81-68.
After shooting below 40% from the field in 11 consecutive outings, the Gamecocks had a rare impressive night from the field in the Mississippi State game, where they shot 25-of-54 for 46.3%. Senior guard Tyrone Johnson erupted for a career-high 28 points, going 7-of-10 from the field and 13-of-15 from the free throw line. Hopefully for Johnson, he’ll remain as hot against Arkansas, which limited him to just seven points on five attempts back in February. Johnson is averaging 9.9 PPG this season, third best in the team.
South Carolina must avoid falling prey to Arkansas’ harassing pressure defense that forces opponents to turn the ball over 16.4 times per game—11th most in the nation. In the first meeting with Arkansas, the Gamecocks egregiously committed 20 turnovers, which led to a significant number of added possessions for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas is one of the best in converting possessions into points based on their average of 112.2 points per 100 possessions so taking care of the ball and making better shot selections are going to be South Carolina’s best friends in this game.
South Carolina’s top two scorers this season, Duane Notice (11.3 PPG) and Sindarius Thornwell (11.0 PPG), however, will have to show up on Thursday to keep Arkansas’ defense on its toes. Notice has been scoring well of late, averaging 14.8 PPG in South Carolina’s last four games.
The same can’t be said about Thornwell, though, as the sophomore guard hasn’t scored in double-digits over Arkansas’ last four games, wherein he put up a dismal 6.0 PPG average. That said, Thornwell can heat up anytime against any opponent, as evidenced by his 20-point performance against the Kentucky Wildcats on February 14.
South Carolina is 3-1 ATS in its last four games against Arkansas.
Writer’s Prediction
Arkansas wins, 77-69.
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