Talk about the polar extremes of the SEC—surging Alabama ended Oklahoma’s unbeaten start in a 28-point romp this past Saturday, the same day South Carolina went on the road to Mississippi State and lost by 35. No wonder the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide is a 9.5-point road favorite at Sportsbook on Wednesday night, when they face the Gamecocks in Columbia.
Alabama (12-2 outright), which returned much of its Final Four roster from last season, enters having covered in three straight—the most recent a blitz of 13-point underdog Oklahoma in Tuscaloosa. South Carolina (10-4), which lost three starters off its surprise 2024 NCAA tournament team, has failed to cover in four of its last six.
Alabama vs South Carolina Odds Today
Alabama vs South Carolina, January 8, 7:00 pm ET
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | -9.5 (-110) | -465 | O156.5 (-110) |
| South Carolina Gamecocks | +9.5 (-110) | +350 | U156.5 (-110) |
Odds as of Sportsbook
Alabama vs South Carolina Picks Today
Alabama -9.5 (-110) & UNDER 156.5 (-110) at Sportsbook
The Gamecocks went 23-8 last season, when they compiled one of the best ATS marks in all of college basketball. Things have been different this season, and right from the jump—South Carolina lost its opener at home to 19-point underdog North Florida, and also failed to cover in closer-than-expected buy games against 18.5-point underdog Mercer and 18-point underdog Presbyterian.
South Carolina is currently 94th in the NCAA’s NET rankings, with one victory over a Quad 1 opponent this season—rival Clemson, which the Gamecocks upended in overtime as a 1.5-point home underdog. Compare that to Alabama, which owns quality wins over four teams likely to make the NCAA tournament (Illinois, Houston, North Carolina and Oklahoma), narrow losses to two other ranked opponents (Purdue and Oregon), and a strength of schedule ranked eighth nationally at KenPom.com.
The Gamecocks, meanwhile, stand 206th. The line is a big one for a road team, and while Crimson Tide star guard Mark Sears continues to struggle with his efficiency from the field—he shot 38.5 percent against the Sooners—he’s also scored 20 or more in five of his last seven. While South Carolina has an NBA-bound big man in Collin Murray-Boyles, he often plays in foul trouble, further depleting a lineup that lacks the depth of the big boys in the SEC.
The Gamecocks rank last in the SEC in scoring offense, so no surprise they’ve gone UNDER in seven of their last nine. Alabama has gone UNDER in four of its last seven, but against totals that are often 20 to 30 points higher than what the Gamecocks face. Still, the Gamecocks can be stingy on defense—they limit opponents to 31.5 percent from 3—so the UNDER remains the natural play Wednesday night.
Alabama vs South Carolina News
Crimson Tide freshman forward Derrion Reid has returned to practice after recovering from an ankle injury, according to the Tuscaloosa News, and should be available against South Carolina. The newspaper also reported that guard Houston Mallette was limited by an illness against Oklahoma. Alabama starting guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is out for the season with an Achilles tear.
Alabama vs South Carolina Prop Pick Today
Alabama OVER 83.5 (-104) at Sportsbook
Owners of the highest-scoring offense in college basketball, the Crimson Tide has eclipsed 100 points in back-to-back games, and gone over the 90-point mark in five of its last eight. They’re unlikely to get that many Wednesday night, on the road against a capable opposing defense. But Alabama possesses far more firepower than the Gamecocks, and should be able to exceed this team total while keeping the game total UNDER the number.
Alabama vs South Carolina Betting Trends
- Alabama is 1-2 ATS this season on the road.
- South Carolina is 1-3 ATS this season against ranked opponents.
- Alabama is 5-6 ATS this season against unranked opponents.
