The SEC Tournament tips off on Wednesday with a clash between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Arkansas Razorbacks at Bridgestone Arena.
The Razorbacks lost to the Gamecocks earlier this month but my South Carolina vs. Arkansas predictions are backing them to cover as short faves in a revenge game. Here are my best college basketball picks for this conference tournament clash on March 12, with tipoff at 1 p.m. ET.
South Carolina vs Arkansas prediction
Who will win South Carolina vs Arkansas?
The South Carolina Gamecocks clobbered the Arkansas Razorbacks at the start of this month, but that was just their second win in conference play all season. This is a team with little to play for while the Razorbacks are on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament and have the more talented lineup. They should get the win.
My best bet
Arkansas -2 (-115 at bet365)
My analysis
The Razorbacks won four of their last five games. However, their only defeat during that span was an ugly 72-53 loss at South Carolina on March 1. Arkansas shot 29% from the floor in that game and went 3-for-22 from deep, which may have been partially due to tired legs after playing overtime three days before.
The Razorbacks don't shoot the ball well, but that was an outlier even for them. Especially when you consider South Carolina is awful in its own end. The Gamecocks were 14th in the SEC in both 2-point defense (55.6%) and 3-point defense (37%) during conference play.
The Gamecocks were even worse with the ball, ranking dead-last in the conference in adjusted offense, effective field goal percentage (46.1%), and turnover rate (19.8%). The Razorbacks are bad on offense but aren't nearly that awful, ranking seventh in TO rate (16%) and 12th in eFG% (48.6%) against SEC foes.
Even after the season-ending injury to Boogie Fland and the loss of leading scorer Adou Thiero (15.6 ppg), Arkansas has filled up the hoop. The Razorbacks scored more than 85 points in three of four games since Thiero hyper-extended his knee and there's a chance he'll return on Wednesday.
There's a significant gap on the defensive end of the floor, with Arkansas 17th in the country in adjusted defense at KenPom and South Carolina 48th.
Even without Fland and possibly Thiero, Arkansas is loaded with talent. Guards D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, and bigs Zvonimir Ivisic and Jonas Aidoo made up the highest-rated transfer class in the country, while Billy Richmond and Karter Knox were Top-30 recruits.
With Arkansas having the more talented squad, the better defense, and the superior coach, back them as short faves.
South Carolina vs Arkansas same-game parlay (SGP)
Arkansas -1.5
Under 139.5
Nick Pringle Over 8.5 points
Both of these teams are significantly better on defense than offense. The Gamecocks also sit 283rd in the country in adjusted tempo, and the Razorbacks weren't able to push the pace when these teams previously clashed. When you also factor in the questionable status of Thiero, who averages 15.6 ppg on a highly-efficient 54.8 FG%, the Under seems likely.
The Gamecocks will have to give significant minutes to center Nick Pringle in order to battle Ivisic and Aidoo down low. Pringle has gone Over 8.5 points in seven of his last nine games. He's fresh off a 16-point performance against Tennessee's elite defense and scored 18 points against Arkansas in that previous meeting.
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South Carolina vs Arkansas odds
South Carolina vs Arkansas live odds
South Carolina vs Arkansas opening odds
- Spread: South Carolina +2 | Arkansas -2
- Moneyline: South Carolina +125 | Arkansas -150
- Over/Under: Over 139 | Under 139
Odds courtesy of bet365.
South Carolina vs Arkansas betting trend to know
The Razorbacks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for South Carolina vs. Arkansas.
How to watch South Carolina vs Arkansas
| Location | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN |
| Date | Wednesday, 3-12-2025 |
| Tip-off | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | SEC Network |
South Carolina vs Arkansas key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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