Somehow𓂃, the South Carolina Gamecocks a༺re tied atop the SEC standings with a 9-2 record.
The 🌜turnaround Lamont Paris has pulled off in his second year is remarkable.
South Carolinℱa went 4-14 in SEC play last season.
Playing in The Jungle is always challenging, and the situational ♐spot screams Auburn.
But the schematic matchup fꦗavors South Carolina, so I’m betting the Gamecocks keep it close on Wednesday night.
South Carolina vs. Auburn pick
The Tigers should be fired up back꧑ at home after a brutal road loss to Fꩵlorida, and the Gamecocks are likely due for a loss after seven straight games.
So, I fully expect Auburn to pull out this ꦚall-important conference victory and stay within a game of Alabama in the SEC conference standings.
However, I don’t see the Tigers winning on Wednesday night in blowout fashion.&n꧙bsp;
South Carolina’s success has ꦡcome from its ability t🌊o control the pace of games, turning every game into a rock-fighting grinder.
The Gamecocks rank 355ꦍth nationally and last in the SEC tempo, and all of their conference games have stayed under 68 posses🍷sions.
On offense, the Gamecocks run a methodical five-out sw🙈ing motion offense that leverages a good-shooting frontcourt (center BJ Mack is a 31% 3-point shooter) to invert the floor and force opponents to defend out of position.
They’re happy to eat up the clock in the pro꧟cess, boasting the 13th-longest average offensiv♛e possession length nationally (19.6 seconds).
On defense, the Gamecocks run a deep drop-coverage scheme that denies motion off🌳enses and forces them into isolation and ball-screen creation.
Generally, this also forces 🍸opponents into late shot-clock attempts, as 10% of their defensive possessions end with a shot in the last four seconds of the clock (93rd percentile).
Additionally, South Carolina is among the best teams at denying transition opportunities, allowing t💝he 12th-fewest per🔯 game nationally (8.6).
So, the Gamecocks eat up the cloඣck on offense and defense while forcing opponents to play in the half-court.&✤nbsp;
It’s incredibly difficult to cover a double-digit spread in that game script, partially explaining why the Gamecocks are 9-1 ATS as an u💜nderdog this season.
And I don’t t𓆏hink Auburn can buck those trends.
Auburn runs a flex-motion offense that heavil🔴y utilizes cutters, and it doesn’t have many great isolation or ball-screen creators.
So, often, the Tigers sꦏtruggle to shoot late in the clock (.58 PPP, seventh percentile), which they minimize by trying to run the floor in transition (26th nationally in transition frequency).
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That’s a really bad matchup against South Carolina൩.
The Tigers are a𒐪n elite defense, but they’re specifically an elite interior defense, ranking first nationally in 2-point shooting allowed (42%) behind Johni Broome and Jaylin Wi🔴lliams.
However, I think South Carolina can use its spread offense and force Auburn’s bigs to defend tow🐭ard the perimeter and out of position.
But, ultimately, I think the Gamecocks control the pace of the game, forcing a low-possession, low-scoring gameౠ script that will make it increasingly difficult for Auburn to run away.
And I 🌼think the Gamecocks have the schematic advantages to score and defend against Auburn.
So, I’ll g💙rab the double-digit dog, even if it’s a tough situation.
South Carolina vs. Auburn odds
South Carolina +11.5