On Saturday the #24 Florida Gators (20-8, 10-5) head to Columbia, South Carolina to face the Gamecocks of South Carolina (23-5, 11-4) in an SEC matchup. Florida is 10-5 and South Carolina is 11-4 in the SEC and both are fourth and third in the conference behind both Tennessee and Alabama. This matchup officially eliminates one team and the winner would have a faint chance of winning.
#24 Florida Gators at #18 South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Florida Gators | +1.5 (+102) | O145 (-110) | +110 |
| South Carolina Gamecocks | -1.5 (-122) | U145 (-110) | -130 |
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Match Details
Fixture: #24 Florida Gators @ #18 South Carolina Gamecocks
Date/Time: Saturday, March 2, 2024; 12:00 pm EST (ESPN/SECN)
Venue: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
Team Stats:
Florida Gators
PPG: 84.7
FG%: 45.5%
3-Point FG%: 33.6%
FT%: 69.2%
Rebounds: 43.7
Assists: 15.4
Turnovers: 12
PPG Allowed: 77
Steals: 6.6
Blocks: 5.3
Fouls: 17.8
South Carolina Gamecocks
PPG: 71.7
FG%: 44%
3-Point FG%: 34.1%
FT%: 71.5%
Rebounds: 36.1
Assists: 15.6
Turnovers: 10.3
PPG Allowed: 65.3
Steals: 4.7
Blocks: 3.1
Fouls: 15.9
Projected Starting Lineups
Florida Gators
PG – Walter Clayton Jr. (16.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 apg)
G – Zyon Pulin (15.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.9 apg)
G – Will Richard (11.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 apg)
F – Tyrese Samuel (13.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.7 apg)
F – Micah Handlogten (6.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.0 bpg)
South Carolina Gamecocks
PG – Ta’Lon Cooper (9.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg)
G – Meechie Johnson (13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3 apg)
G – Zachary Davis (5.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.1 apg)
F – Collin Murray-Boyles (12.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, .9 apg)
F – B.J. Mack (13.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.5 bpg)
Florida Gators vs South Carolina Gamecocks Game Prediction
Five of Florida’s (20-8, 10-5) eight losses have come on the road with their last loss being in Tuscaloosa in overtime to Alabama. Still, they have won five of their last six games overall and enter this matchup having won two straight with a win over Missouri, 83-74, this past Wednesday. Florida is hovering around a 7-seed and a win here would go a long way in improving their seeding.
South Carolina (23-5, 11-4) has only lost twice at home and it was in letdown spots to teams like Georgia and LSU. They have won two in a row since losing two straight to Auburn and LSU with wins against Ole Miss and Texas A&M both on the road. They won against A&M 70-68 and it helped them stay along the 6-seed line as well.
These two teams are both safely in the tournament, but they still have an outside chance at an SEC title, but the winner of this matchup would just need help. Expect the Gamecocks to win and cover at home and make the game ugly for a Florida team that thrives on offense.
