Clemson Tigers vs South Carolina Gamecocks NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/17/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Tigers and Gamecocks. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on SECN, and it’s hosted by the Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC. Get ready to place your bets! In this non-conference matchup, Clemson is favored by -2.5 against South Carolina. The over/under for the game is 135 points.

CLEMSON TIGERS VS SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS BETTING PICK

The Pick: South Carolina Gamecocks +2.5

This game will be played at Colonial Life Arena at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, December 17th.

WHY BET THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 73-72 in favor of the Gamecocks.
• Not only will South Carolina pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +2.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 135 points, and we like the over with a projected 145 points.

Will the Tigers Pull Through as the Favored Road Team?

Clemson dropped to 9-2 on the season after an 87-82 home loss to Memphis on Saturday. The Tigers were -5.5 favorites going into the game but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 169, surpassing the over/under line of 144.

Clemson trailed 33-32 at halftime but managed to score 40 points in the second half while allowing 39. Despite a strong offensive effort after the break, they couldn’t pull off the win.

Clemson put up 82 points in their last game, shooting 44.8% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 31 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 52.2%, with a strong 55.6% shooting on two-point attempts.

Viktor Lakhin and Tyrese Hunter each scored 23 points, with Hunter knocking down 7 of 11 threes at a 63.6% clip. Lakhin also grabbed 11 rebounds. Colby Rogers added 22 points, shooting 57.1% from deep, while Ian Schieffelin and Chase Hunter each contributed 17 points.

Clemson’s defense gave up 87 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 44% from the field. They allowed 30 made field goals on 67 attempts.

Inside the arc, Clemson’s defense struggled, giving up 20 two-point baskets on 36 attempts, a 55% shooting rate. From three-point range, the other team hit 10 of 31 shots, shooting 32%. Clemson also sent them to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 12 free throws, shooting 80%.

Can The Gamecocks Secure a Home Victory?

South Carolina improved to 7-3 on the season with a 73-53 win over USC Upstate on Saturday. The Gamecocks were heavy favorites at -23.5 but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 126, well under the 150.5 O/U line.

Leading 35-28 at halftime, South Carolina’s defense stepped up in the second half, allowing just 25 points while scoring 38 of their own. Despite the win, the Gamecocks will look to tighten up their play as they move forward.

South Carolina put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 42.4% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 47.5%, with a 50% success rate on two-point attempts (20/40) and just 26.3% from beyond the arc (5/19). At the free-throw line, they connected on 72% of their shots, going 18/25.

Nick Pringle led the way with 19 points, shooting 8/10 from the field and grabbing 6 rebounds. Breylin Garcia added 14 points and 13 boards, while Collin Murray-Boyles contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Gamecocks recorded 11 offensive rebounds and 14 assists in the game.

South Carolina’s defense held their opponent to 53 points, even though they shot 42% from the field, making 25 of 59 attempts. Inside the arc, the opponent connected on 50% of their two-point shots, going 20 for 40.

From three-point range, South Carolina limited their opponent to 5 made threes on 19 attempts, a 26% shooting performance. The opponent also went to the free-throw line 25 times, making 18, for a 72% success rate. South Carolina gave up 11 offensive rebounds in the game.