The Arkansas Razorbacks (16-16) and South Carolina Gamecocks (25-6) meet in a SEC Tournament 2nd-round matchup Thursday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Arkansas vs. South Carolina odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The 12th-seeded Razorbacks picked up the 90-85 OT win against Vanderbilt Wednesday in the 1st round, just missing the cover as 6.5-point favorites as the Over (148.5) cashed. It’s all about the Over lately for Arkansas, with the total going high in 7 in a row, and 11 of the past 12 outings dating back to Jan. 31.
These teams met Jan. 20 in Fayetteville, with the Gamecocks coming away with a 77-64 win as 2.5-point underdogs as the Over (139.5) connected.
The fifth-seeded Gamecocks closed out the regular season with 4 wins in their final 5 games, while also going 4-1 against the spread (ATS). The Over is on a 3-1 run for South Carolina, too.
South Carolina is No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Arkansas vs. South Carolina odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:04 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Arkansas +250 (bet $100 to win $250) | South Carolina -310 (bet $310 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Arkansas +6.5 (-110) | South Carolina -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 144.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Arkansas vs. South Carolina picks and predictions
Prediction
South Carolina 84, Arkansas 69
Moneyline
South Carolina (-310) will cost more than 3 times the potential return. That’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward. It just makes no sense betting such heavy favorites, even if the ranked team looks like it should be a lock. Over the long term, it’s a poor betting strategy.
PASS.
Against the spread
SOUTH CAROLINA -6.5 (-110) is a good bet in its 1st tournament game this season.
The Gamecocks have covered 4 of the past 5 outings, and they covered in the only regular-season meeting against Arkansas on the road Jan. 20.
The Razorbacks have managed to cover 6 of the past 8 outings, but as a single-digit underdog, Arkansas has managed a dismal 2-7 ATS mark in the past 9 instances.
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Over/Under
OVER 144.5 (-110) might be the best play on the board in this SEC Tournament battle.
As mentioned, it’s been all about the Over lately for Arkansas, including an Over cash in Wednesday’s OT win over Vandy in the 1st round, the 7th consecutive Over for the Razorbacks — and their 11th Over in the past 12 contests. The Over also hit in the regular-season meeting with South Carolina Jan. 20.
The Over is 3-1 in the past 4 outings for South Carolina, too, while going 5-3 in the past 8 contests.
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