The South Carolina Gamecocks and the LSU Tigers battle it out on Saturday in SEC college basketball action.

The South Carolina Gamecocks are coming off of a rare win as Darrin Horn’s team knocked off Georgia last time out. South Carolina is 2-9 in the SEC, 9-6 at home this season, and they are in 12^th and last place in the conference standings. Malik Cooke is averaging 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds, Bruce Ellington is averaging 10.4 points, and Anthony Gill is averaging 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds. As a team SC is averaging 62.2 points and they are shooting 40.9 percent while defensively they are allowing 64.6 points and their opponents are shooting 44.6 percent. This is clearly a down year for the Gamecocks and there will be better days ahead.

The LSU Tigers are still improving this year and Trent Johnson’s team have won three of their last four games. LSU is 5-6 in the SEC, 3-6 on the road this season, and they are in a four way tie for sixth place in the conference standings. Justin Hamilton is averaging 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, Andre Stringer is averaging 10.2 points, and Anthony Hickey is averaging 9.6 points. As a team LSU is averaging 66.5 points and they are shooting 40.9 percent while defensively they are allowing 63.4 points and their opponents are shooting 41.1 percent. LSU looks to have got it rolling just a little too late for this season.

South Carolina is 104 against the spread in their last five home games, 0-4 against the spread in their last four games overall, and 1-5 against the spread following game which they didn’t cover the spread. LSU is 5-2 against the spread in their last seven SEC games, 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 road games, and 1-4 against the spread against a team with a losing record. The road team has covered in six of the last seven meetings of these two.

The total is set at 124 but this one stays under that number and that is my free play. My stronger play is on who will cover the spread and I will post that in the Premium Area.