South Carolina Gamecocks Vs. Florida Gators 1/14/12
Mitch’s Free College Basketball Pick Against the Spread
The South Carolina Gamecocks look for their first SEC win of the year as they host the Florida Gators.
The South Carolina Gamecocks are struggling this season and are right at the .500 mark. Darrin Horn’s team is 0-2 in the conference, 7-4 at home, and 0-4 against teams with an RPI better than 50. Malik Cooke is averaging 12.7 points and 4.7 rebounds, Bruce Ellington is averaging 10.4 points, and Anthony Gill is averaging 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds. As a team South Carolina is averaging 63.9 points and they are shooting 42.7 percent while defensively they are allowing 62.1 points and their opposition shoots 43.8 percent. With a full SEC schedule ahead of them South Carolina will need to pull some upsets to salvage a respectable season.
The Florida Gators bounced back from their upset loss at Tennessee by stomping Georgia by 22 points and they look to bring that momentum forward into this game. UF is 0-4 on the road this year and are just 3-2 in their last five games including a loss at Rutgers. Kenny Boynton is averaging 18.9 points, Bradley Beal is averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds, Erving Walker is averaging 13.1 points and 4.9 assists, and Patric Young is averaging 11.8 points and 7.1 rebounds. As a team Florida is averaging 82.8 points while shooting 47.6 percent while defensively they are allowing 65.8 points and their opponents are shooting 41.6 percent. With Florida’s outside shooting if they can get hot they can beat anyone on any given night.
South Carolina is 4-1 against the spread in their last five games overall, 4-1 against the spread against a team with a winning record, and 1-5 against the spread following a loss. Florida is 6-2-1 against the spread in their last nine SEC games, 0-4 against the spread following a cover, and 7-1 against the spread following a win by 20 or more points. The underdog is 10-4-1 against the spread in the last 15 meetings of these two.
South Carolina isn’t very good this year and while Florida has not been good on the road the Gamecocks have a way of making other teams look good.
Mitch’s Pick: Florida -7.5
