The Clemson Tigers take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, SC. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Clemson is favored by 3 points on the spread with a moneyline of -142. The total is set at 135 points.
Here are my Clemson vs. South Carolina predictions and college basketball picks for December 17, 2024.
Clemson vs South Carolina Prediction
My Pick: Clemson -2.5 (Play to -3)
My Clemson vs South Carolina best bet is on the Tigers spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Clemson vs South Carolina Odds, Spread
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2 -110 | 134.5 -110 / -110 | -130 |
| South Carolina Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2 -110 | 134.5 -110 / -110 | +110 |
- Clemson vs South Carolina spread: Clemson -2
- Clemson vs South Carolina over/under: 134.5 points
- Clemson vs South Carolina moneyline: Clemson -130, South Carolina +110
- Clemson vs South Carolina best bet: Clemson -2.5 (Play to -3)
My Clemson vs South Carolina NCAAB Betting Preview
Clemson Basketball
Clemson suffered a fairly devastating loss to Memphis on Saturday, as the Tigers appeared to be in firm control.
However, that loss could serve as the ideal motivator for this in-state duel.
Defense is the calling card for Brad Brownell's squad, as the Tigers rank 16th in KenPom's efficiency metric. The Tigers' defense has a defined style; they put pressure on the ball, leading to a 21% turnover rate. Also, getting past Clemson's guards is a very trying task.
Clemson's offense might not have the explosiveness it did last year, but swapping Joe Girard III for Jaeden Zackery was a great move defensively. The pesky on-ball defense of Zackery has been the anchor of one of the nation's top defensive units.
Chase Hunter is Zackery's backcourt partner, and Hunter is Clemson's leading scorer with 16 points per game. The 6-foot-4 senior guard has always been a terrific driver, but he's even more dynamic with his improved 37% mark from 3.
Even in life post-PJ Hall, Clemson has one of the most productive interiors in the country. Ian Schieffelin is a nightly double-double threat, and Viktor Lakhin's length and versatility keep defenses on their heels.
It appears that Lakhin transferring to Clemson unlocked some hidden parts of his game — he hit just 14 3s last year at Cincy and already has eight this year. The aptly-nicknamed "Chef" isn't just a bruiser; he also leads the Tigers with 3.5 assists, showcasing his versatility.
South Carolina Basketball
South Carolina has found its stride after a tough start. The Gamecocks' defense has looked dominant in the past four games, holding three of four opponents to fewer than 1.00 PPP.
I don't know if I would consider South Carolina a good perimeter shooting team despite its percentage sitting over 35%. It feels a bit deceiving, though South Carolina shoots 3s on 41% of its field goal attempts.
I don't buy the shooting numbers because the Gamecocks only have two trustworthy shooters — Jamarii Thomas and Jacobi Wright, who won't have easy matchups versus Hunter and Zackery.
Both starting bigs — Collin Murray-Boyles and Nick Pringle — don't shoot 3s, and Myles Stute is hitting just 29% from downtown.
The lack of shooting from the bigs will allow Clemson's frontcourt to sag off them if they float around the perimeter, effectively eliminating any chance of South Carolina collecting an offensive rebound.
Although Murray-Boyles is a non-shooter, he's South Carolina's best player. The sophomore forward boasts a team-high 15.9 points per game with seven rebounds.
Lamont Paris tends to have strong defensive teams. This version of the Gamecocks features another strong defense, as the unit ranks 58th in defensive efficiency while holding opponents to just 45% shooting on 2s.
An interesting tidbit on South Carolina: The Gamecocks are 0-2 versus KenPom top-140 teams this year. So, that begs the question: Is South Carolina winning because of weaker competition, or did the team get better from losses against Indiana and Xavier?
South Carolina will look to keep possessions at a minimum and the pace at a halt.
Clemson vs. South Carolina Betting Analysis
Where Clemson can really expose South Carolina is on the offensive glass, as the Tigers collect 35.5% of their misses, while South Carolina ranks 160th in defensive rebounding rate.
It won't be easy to keep "The Chef" from owning the glass, which spells disaster for the Gamecocks.
I just don't see where the home team has the advantage; Clemson has better bigs, guards and shooters. The only negative is Clemson is playing at South Carolina.
While that matters — since winning road games is difficult — I just think Clemson is the vastly better team.
