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Although superstar freshman Michael Porter Jr. never got the chance to suit up for the Missouri Tigers, this season has not been a wash for Mizzou. Cuonzo Martin already has led this team to more wins than it picked up all of last year in his first season with the team. The Tigers actually look competitive and nearly knocked off a good West Virginia team in the Advocare Invitational title game around Thanksgiving. Now, they will look to show the rest of the SEC they are no longer the conference’s laughing stock. The Tigers first test will come on the road against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
This war on the floor will go down Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at 9 p.m. ET at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. The game will be televised live on ESPN2. We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Wednesday schedule.
Opening College Basketball Odds at BookMaker.eu
Missouri looked like it might be one of the country’s biggest sleepers in November. The Tigers hammered Iowa State in their opener and started the season 5-1 ATS with the lone loss coming on the road against Utah.
However, this team has looked a little vulnerable since it nearly beat West Virginia. Missouri has covered just once over its last six games, and nearly lost outright as a 15-point favorite over Stephen F. Austin before Christmas.
The Gamecocks did not get off to a great start in SEC play. South Carolina was unable to knock off Ole Miss on the road, losing 74-69 on New Year’s Eve.
South Carolina shocked the world by making it to the Final Four last season, but the Gamecocks have taken a step back this year. They already have four losses and have covered just one in their last seven games.
Key Stats
This year, the Gamecocks have had some major problems on the offensive end. Without Sindarius Thornwell to pace them, they are outside the top 200 in most major offensive categories.
South Carolina has had a real tough time creating good scoring chances this year. Of its nine rotation players that are averaging at least 10 minutes a game, only one is hitting 50 percent or better from the field. As a whole, the Gamecocks have sunk a scant 42.7 percent of their field goals.
Additionally, they do not have good perimeter shooters. Frank Booker is the team’s three-point specialist, and he is making 43.4 percent of his chances this year. No one else is hitting better than 37.5 percent though, and the team is averaging 33.8 percent beyond the arc.
Player to Watch
Without Porter, Martin has had to try to get better production out of some of the team’s older players in hopes of making to the NCAA Tournament.
Jordan Barnett has been one of Missouri’s key contributors this season. Barnett is averaging 14.8 PPG and 6.2 RPG, both second-most on the team. His numbers thus far this year are much better than what we saw out of him last season, so that has to give the Tigers some real encouragement.
For a frontcourt player, Barnett is one of the best free throw shooters around. He is sinking 92.5 percent of his freebies and gets to the line often. That gives him a lot of additional value.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Whereas most teams have played a game since Christmas by this point, the Tigers have had a full 10 days to rest. We haven’t seen Missouri in action since December 23, and that has given the team a chance to get some nice rest.
Expect South Carolina to be a small favorite here by virtue of playing at home. The Gamecocks have yet to lose at home this season, and will squeak past the Tigers in a close one.
College Basketball Odds: South Carolina 70, Missouri 66
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