Georgia vs South Carolina

Georgia’s explosive offense comes into Columbia on a rare one-game slide after Florida snapped its seven-game winning streak, while South Carolina rides the confidence of a bounce-back win at LSU that ended its own mini-skid. With the Bulldogs reporting no key injuries and the Gamecocks’ frontcourt depth only mildly threatened by Christ Essandoko’s questionable ankle, both rotations should be close to full strength for 40 minutes. Given Jeremiah Wilkinson’s 17-plus points per night, Marcus “Smurf” Millender’s recent scoring surge, Somto Cyril’s rim protection, and Georgia’s three-game series streak over South Carolina that includes last year’s 73–64 road win in this building, laying the juice on the Georgia moneyline at -200 is justified but not a slam-dunk bargain, earning a solid Grade B for strong win probability but modest payout. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 10/01/2026 10:02. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/florida-dominates-inside-knock-off-rival-no-18-georgia--flm-2026-01-07/?utm_source=openai))

South Carolina’s recent form suggests an uptick in pace and shot-making after snapping its losing streak behind Elijah Strong’s 30-point eruption at LSU, while Georgia looks to rebound from its first defeat in eight games with the same ultra-fast tempo that has them near 98 points per night. With no major offensive pieces sidelined on either side and only Essandoko’s ankle status clouding South Carolina’s interior depth, both teams should have their primary scorers—Meechie Johnson and Strong for the Gamecocks, Wilkinson, Millender, and Cyril for the Bulldogs—ready to push the scoreboard. Georgia has cleared the 100-point mark multiple times this season and now faces a South Carolina group averaging about 80 per game at home, making Over 163.5 attractive despite past series totals often landing lower; the offensive efficiency and pace edge this toward a shootout, but the high number keeps it at a volatile Grade B-. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 10/01/2026 10:02. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/preview/_/gameId/401808165?utm_source=openai))

Jeremiah Wilkinson and the Bulldogs may have had their long winning streak broken, but that loss to Florida should sharpen their focus against a South Carolina team that just halted its own skid and now enjoys a short one-game surge plus its usual home-court edge. With Georgia entering healthy and South Carolina potentially missing or limiting Essandoko in the frontcourt, the matchup again tilts toward Georgia’s depth and interior athleticism, which have powered three straight wins in this series, including last season’s 73–64 road cover in Columbia. Factoring in Georgia’s dominant scoring margin, South Carolina’s solid but not elite defense, and the Bulldogs’ recent success against the number in this matchup, laying the short -3.5 on Georgia earns a Grade B-: there’s clear edge and history on their side, but hostile road context and a confident Gamecocks core led by Johnson and Strong keep this from grading higher. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 10/01/2026 10:02. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/preview/_/gameId/401808165?utm_source=openai))