The South Carolina Gamecocks will look to pick up a win while covering the spread when they take on the Crimson Tide in Alabama at New Orleans Arena on Thursday in college basketball action.

It's a game in the SEC Tournament, which will decide the conference title, not to mention deciding which teams make the Field of 68. This matchup is a neutral-site affair being played at New Orleans Arena.

The Crimson Tide currently sports a 20-10 record overall in NCAAB action, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 12-14 ATS. The Gamecocks are 10-20 and 10-15 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Crimson Tide produce a 13-13 OVER/UNDER record on the season, while the Gamecocks have gone 16-9 against the number.



View South Carolina vs Alabama Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Alabama opened as 9-point favorites in this College Basketball tilt.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
It's a betting matchup between the No. 26-rated Crimson Tide and the No. 274-ranked Gamecocks, according to the latest pro hoops power rankings here at Odds Shark. Prediction formulas run on this game indicate a possible 70-59 result in favor of the Crimson Tide.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Alabama has the nation's No. 241-rated offensive output, at 65.1 PPG. The visiting Gamecocks defense ranks No. 117 allowing on average 65.1 PPG. The Crimson Tide FG% has averaged 44.9% so far, more than the Gamecocks marksmen have achieved on the year, 40.2% per game.

Defensively, South Carolina features the nation's No. 140-rated defense on the road, allowing 68.5 points per game. Alabama, meanwhile, comes in at No. 275 nationally in scoring at home.

South Carolina was a 67-55 loser in their most recent outing on the road against Georgia. They failed to cover the 6-point spread as underdogs. The Gamecocks endured a 67-55 loss at the hands of the Bulldogs on Saturday, despite a 17-point effort from Malik Cooke at Stegeman Coliseum.

Last time out for Alabama, they were a 60-51 loser as they battled Mississippi on the road. They failed to cover in the match as a 2-point favorite. Alabama got 12 points from Trevor Releford but lost anyway, 60-51, to Mississippi on Saturday at Tad Smith Coliseum.


South Carolina Gamecocks Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
After playing Georgia are 3-7
After a loss are 2-8

Alabama Crimson Tide Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
After playing Mississippi are 3-7
After a loss are 5-5

A few Gamecocks at Crimson Tide trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Alabama's last 8 games when playing South Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Alabama's last 6 games
Alabama is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games