Kentucky vs. South Carolina odds, prediction: 2026 college basketball picks for Feb. 24 from proven model
CBS Sports
by
Daniel Kohn
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Kentucky Wildcats aim to break a three-game losing streak as they face the South Carolina Gamecocks in an SEC showdown on February 24. Kentucky enters the matchup with a 17-10 record (8-6 in conference play), tied for sixth place in the SEC, while South Carolina sits at 12-15 overall and 3-11 in league games, ranking 13th in the conference. Despite their struggles on the road this season (3-5), Kentucky is favored as a 6.5-point favorite over South Carolina, which has shown strong home performance with an 11-6 record at Colonial Life Arena.
The game features two teams with contrasting fortunes: Kentucky, looking to bounce back from a narrow 75-74 loss to Auburn, and South Carolina, riding a victory over Mississippi State. The Wildcats have a significant historical edge, leading the all-time series 55-15, including 21 wins in Columbia. However, the Gamecocks have shown resilience at home, winning six of their last eight games there.
SportsLine's Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times and predicts a high-scoring contest with a projected total of 155 points, clearing the over/under line in nearly 70% of simulations. The model highlights Kentucky’s offensive potential, projecting three Wildcats to score at least 10 points each, led by Otega Oweh’s expected 21.1 points. On South Carolina’s side, Meechie Johnson Jr. is projected to lead the team with 18.4 points.
The matchup also carries significant betting implications, as SportsLine’s model has been on a strong run of form, going 11-1 on over/under picks and 20-1
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/24/2026