Tennessee Volunteers vs South Carolina Gamecocks – College Basketball Preview – Mar 3, 2026
The Tennessee Volunteers, ranked #23, will play against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET. The game will take place at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC. Both teams are part of the Southeastern Conference.
Tennessee enters the game with a record of 20-9. They have shown strength at home but are 5-5 on the road. South Carolina has a record of 12-17, performing better at home with an 11-8 record. Tennessee is favored with an 8.5-point spread, and the over/under is set at 143.5 points.
Tennessee Volunteers Team Preview
The Tennessee Volunteers hold an AP rank of #23 and have a season record of 20-9. They have shown mixed results in their recent games, winning one out of their last three. Their performance on the road this season stands at an even 5-5, making them a competitive team in away games.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie has been a standout player for the Volunteers, providing consistent scoring. In their recent loss to Alabama, he scored 26 points and added seven assists. Felix Okpara also contributed significantly with a strong shooting performance, making all his field goals against Missouri.
Offensively, Tennessee averages 80.1 points per game, ranking them 100th. They have a high rebounding rate with 43 per game, placing them 9th overall. Defensively, they struggle slightly with their steals and blocks, which could be an area to improve in future games.
South Carolina Gamecocks Team Preview
The South Carolina Gamecocks have had a mixed season. They have a record of 12-17. At home, they perform better with an 11-8 record, but their away performance shows a 1-9 record.
The Gamecocks scored an average of 75.9 points per game this season. Their field goal percentage stands at 43.8. The team is strong in free throws, with a percentage of 78.9, which ranks 32nd nationally.
Meechie Johnson has been a key player for the Gamecocks. He averages 17.2 points per game with a field goal percentage of 42.0. Mike Sharavjamts also contributes with 11.0 points per game and a high free throw percentage of 88.2.
Betting Prediction
Tennessee’s offensive stats show they score 80.1 points per game, ranking them 100th. However, their possession rate is low at 66.6, ranking 229th. This slow pace might lead to fewer overall points in the game.
South Carolina scores 75.9 points per game, which is lower than Tennessee. Their possession rate is slightly better at 67.2. Still, they rank 283rd in field goal percentage, indicating potential struggles to score efficiently.
Both teams have recent trends leaning towards the under. Tennessee has gone under in their last three games. South Carolina has also seen a similar pattern, with only one game going over in their last five.
- Pick: Under 143.5
