South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Arkansas Razorbacks – SEC Tournament Preview – March 12, 2025

South Carolina faces Arkansas in the opening round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET. Arkansas, the No. 9 seed, enters with a 19-12 record, while South Carolina sits as the No. 16 seed at 12-19.

These teams met on March 1, when South Carolina dominated Arkansas 72-53. The Gamecocks led by as many as 35 points in that matchup. The winner will advance to face Ole Miss in the next round.

South Carolina Preview – Looking for a Repeat Performance

South Carolina comes into the SEC Tournament after dropping its final game of the season to Tennessee, 75-65. The Gamecocks played well early, entering halftime tied 34-34, but couldn’t maintain that pace in the second half.

Forward Collin Murray-Boyles leads South Carolina with 16.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He was key in their previous win over Arkansas, scoring 35 points on just 16 shot attempts. His ability to control the paint will be crucial once again.

South Carolina averages 69.8 points per game while allowing 70.9 points on defense. The Gamecocks have played better down the stretch after starting 0-13 in conference play and will aim to keep improving in the tournament.

Arkansas Preview – Looking to Bounce Back

Arkansas responded well after its blowout loss to South Carolina, finishing the season with wins over Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. Guard D.J. Wagner played a big role in those victories, scoring 24 points with five assists against Mississippi State.

Wagner averages 11.1 points per game, while Adou Thiero leads the Razorbacks with 15.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Johnell Davis also contributes 11.1 points per game as a steady scoring option.

Arkansas scores 70.9 points per game while giving up 69.8 points. The Razorbacks will need to improve their shooting after going ice-cold in the last meeting with South Carolina, where they shot just 12% in the first half.

Betting Prediction

Arkansas is favored by 3.5 points, with the total set at 139.5. South Carolina’s recent win over the Razorbacks shows they can compete, but Arkansas has found its rhythm in recent games. Expect Wagner and Thiero to carry the scoring load.

Arkansas’ improved form suggests they can pull off a close win, but South Carolina’s defense could keep this game tight. The under may be a solid play given both teams’ inconsistent offense.

Pick: Arkansas -3.5 / Under 139.5

Trends to Watch

• South Carolina: Has hit the 1H Game Total Under in 19 of their last 34 games (+1.90 Units / 5% ROI).
• South Carolina: Has hit the Game Total Under in 18 of their last 34 games (+0.40 Units / 1% ROI).
• Arkansas: Has hit the Moneyline in 21 of their last 33 games (+14.40 Units / 2% ROI).
• Arkansas: Has hit the Team Total Under in 19 of their last 33 games (+2.90 Units / 8% ROI).

Enjoy the game. This should be a great SEC tournament game.