Can South Carolina Keep Defying the Odds? Auburn Showdown on Tap
South Carolina vs Auburn Preview: Tigers as 11.5-Point Favorites
To the surprise of many, the South Carolina Gamecocks have distinguished themselves among the favorites in the SEC. Can they maintain their hot start?
An opportunity for another statement win comes Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET) when the No. 11 Gamecocks visit the No. 13 Auburn Tigers. Much of the early money’s been on the Tigers, who are 11.5-point favorites and -675 on the moneyline. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are +490 to win outright. The projected total is 137.5, with a slight edge to the Under at -112 odds.
What can bettors expect? Read as we break down the odds in our South Carolina vs Auburn preview.
South Carolina Gamecocks at Auburn Tigers 
Day/Time:
Location Neville Arena; Auburn, Ala
Streaming: SEC Network
Betting Trends
The South Carolina Gamecocks are 18-6 ATS, including 6-1 away from home. The Gamecocks haven’t fared nearly as well against the Over/Under, amassing a record of just 11-13. Meanwhile, the Auburn Tigers are 15-9 ATS, including 8-4 at home. Their record against the Over/Under is just 9-15.
Be sure to remember these trends when assessing the odds in our South Carolina vs Auburn preview.
Gamecocks Smashing Expectations
Picked to finish last in the SEC preseason poll, South Carolina has become one of the most pleasant surprises in college basketball. Winners of seven straight and eight of their last nine, the Gamecocks (21-3, 9-2) have taken over the lead in the conference under Lamont Paris. As such they’ve climbed to No. 11 in the AP Top 25 poll, their first time ranked since the 2017 Final Four season.
Despite that, oddsmakers remain a bit skeptical of their staying power. The Gamecocks are still +900 to win the SEC, behind Alabama (-105), Tennessee (+270) and Auburn (+300). They’re also +2000 to make the Final Four and +8000 to win the national championship per NCAAB odds, one of 28 teams priced 80/1 or better.
In defying expectations, the Gamecocks — who have already beaten No. 22 Kentucky and No. 8 Tennessee — are now projected to be firmly in the NCAA Tournament. In fact, Joe Lunardi has them as a No. 5 seed in his latest bracketology for ESPN.
South Carolina is also No. 44 in KenPom while ranking top 50 nationally in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. That’s despite being just 219th in scoring (72.6 PPG).
Guard Meechie Johnson leads South Carolina in scoring (14.1), while Wofford transfer B.J, Mack (13.6) and Minnesota transfer Ta’Lon Cooper (10.2) are also averaging double figures.
South Carolina’s 18 wins are tied for second-most in country behind Minnesota (20). It’s 6-1 ATS over its last seven games and has covered at a 75% clip for the season. It’s also 6-1 ATS and 5-2 OU in true road games. Keep that in mind when analyzing the odds in our South Carolina vs Auburn preview.
Tigers Off to Roaring Start
Auburn looms as one of South Carolina’s biggest challengers in the SEC. The Tigers are 19-5 (8-3) and ranked No. 13 in the AP poll. However, they’re coming off an 81-65 loss to Florida on Saturday in which they were 2-point favorites.
The Tigers have a solid resume, including a 7-5 record in road and neutral-site games and a win over No. 15 Alabama. Their underlying metrics are especially high, as KenPom has them ranked No. 5 nationally. They’re fourth in adjusted defensive efficiency and 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency.
Oddsmakers have reacted accordingly, pricing Auburn +360 to make the Final Four and +1800 to win the NCAA title. At the moment, only six teams have shorter championship odds. Lunardi projects the Tigers as a No. 3 seed in the field of 68.
Auburn is 23rd nationally in scoring (82.3 PPG). A majority of that production tends to come at or near the basket, as the Tigers are averaging only 7.7 3-pointers per game. Forward Johni Broome is the Tigers’ top scorer, averaging 16 points on 55.5% shooting to go with 8.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. Forward Jaylin Williams (13.0) is also scoring in double figures.
Auburn has been favored in nearly every game with the exception of its 79-75 loss to Alabama on Jan. 24, in which it was a 3.5-point underdog. The Tigers have covered in eight of their last 11 games and are 15-9 ATS, good for a 62.5% cover rate. At the same time, their 9-15 record against the Over/Under is among the worst in the country. They’ve gone Under the total in six of their last eight games and are 6-6 in that regard at home.
Handicapping the Game
Is South Carolina for real? The Gamecocks’ surprising start has Paris in the conversation for National Coach of the Year. They’re 9-1 ATS and 8-2 OU as an underdog, including a 63-59 upset of Tennessee after closing at +14 on the NCAAB betting line. They’re also 9-1 ATS in road and neutral-site games.
Auburn, meanwhile, has been just as formidable at home. It’s 12-0 at Neville Arena, including 8-4 ATS.
The Gamecocks may cool off at some point. Still, it’s hard to ignore what they’ve done through the season’s first three-plus months.
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