The South Carolina Gamecocks (10-5, 0-2 SEC) will host the No. 2 Auburn Tigers (14-1, 2-0 SEC) at Colonial Life Arena on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST. In their last head-to-head matchup, Auburn blew out South Carolina 86-55, with Johni Broome leading the Tigers with a 18-point and 10-rebound performance.
The Gamecocks have struggled in conference play, losing their first two SEC games, while Auburn has maintained a perfect conference record so far this season.
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A true title contender
The Auburn Tigers are having a fantastic season in college basketball. They currently hold the No. 2 spot in the national rankings and are considered the top team by KenPom, a widely respected college basketball analytical system. They've faced a challenging schedule, consistently competing against top-tier programs, which has showcased their resilience and high level of play.
Offensively, the Tigers are unmatched, rated by KenPom to be the most efficient offense in the country. Defensively, they remain strong, ranking 19th in the nation. Their only loss this season came against Duke, but they've since responded with a remarkable seven-game winning streak.
Auburn has compiled an impressive resume, defeating powerhouse programs such as Houston, Iowa State, North Carolina, Memphis, Ohio State, Purdue, Missouri, and Texas. In their most recent outing, they extended their winning streak with an 87-82 victory over the Texas Longhorns.
Leading the charge for Auburn is Johni Broome, a dominant force on both ends of the court. He excels in multiple statistical categories, averaging 18.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. Chad Baker-Mazara also contributes significantly, leading the team in steals with 1.2 per game.
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Big Test for Gamecocks
The South Carolina Gamecocks, ranked #77 by KenPom overall, have had a challenging season thus far by SEC standards. Their defensive efforts have been commendable, ranking 64th in defensive rating, but their offense has struggled, sitting at 112th. The Gamecocks' strength of schedule is also ranked 112th.
South Carolina is currently on a two-game losing streak, having fallen to Mississippi State and Alabama in their first two SEC matchups. Earlier in the season, they suffered losses to North Florida, Indiana, and Xavier, highlighting their inconsistency against varying levels of competition.
Collin Murray-Boyles has emerged as the leader for the Gamecocks, averaging 15.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Jamarii Thomas has been a key contributor on both ends of the floor, leading the team with 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Murray-Boyles also anchors the defense with 1.3 blocks per game.
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Best Bets for Auburn vs. South Carolina
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Auburn has won the last eight head-to-head games over South Carolina and has gone 7-1 against the spread in those games. Last season, the Tigers beat the Gamecocks by 40 and 31 points, respectively, and it's hard to trust South Carolina to cover here, even with a big spread. South Carolina has struggled against their more formidable opponents this season, going 1-4 against the spread as an underdog. Auburn is excellent in many areas, including leading the nation in assists to turnover ratio and blocked shots per game (6.9). War Eagle! Take Auburn.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
South Carolina is 257th in adjusted tempo and will look to slow the game down against Auburn. Although the Gamecocks place will prevent Auburn from putting up crazy offensive numbers, the style of play will also make it hard for South Carolina to score against perhaps the best overall team in the nation here. South Carolina has seen their last four games go under the total, including both conference games. I predict this game will fall under the total, with Auburn winning 79-60.
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