Tennessee Volunteers vs South Carolina Gamecocks Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, March 3, 2026
No. 22 Tennessee heads to Columbia for a 6:00 PM ET tip against South Carolina on SEC Network. The Volunteers sit at 20-9 overall and 10-6 in SEC play, while the Gamecocks are 12-17 and just 3-13 in conference action. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Tennessee a commanding 82.7 percent edge, and the numbers back that up. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.
Tennessee Preview
Tennessee enters off a tight 71-69 loss to Alabama, a game where Ja’Kobi Gillespie poured in 26 points. That snapped a three-game winning streak that included double-digit wins over Oklahoma and LSU. For the season, the Volunteers average 80.1 points per game while allowing just 69.2, the best scoring defense in the SEC. Tennessee shoots 46 percent from the field, pulls down 43.0 rebounds per game, and distributes 17.0 assists, showing balance on both ends. Gillespie leads the way at 18.4 points per game, and Nate Ament adds 6.4 rebounds to anchor the frontcourt.
South Carolina Preview
South Carolina is coming off an 87-68 road loss to Georgia and has dropped four of the last five. The Gamecocks average 75.9 points but give up 76.6 per contest, which has been a problem in SEC play. Meechie Johnson leads South Carolina with 17.2 points and 4.3 assists per game, while Mike Sharavjamts chips in 5.5 rebounds. South Carolina shoots 44 percent from the field and averages just 32.8 rebounds, a significant gap compared to Tennessee’s presence on the glass. At home, the Gamecocks are 11-7, but that has not translated into conference success.
Tennessee vs South Carolina Prediction
This matchup comes down to shooting and rebounding. Tennessee allows opponents to shoot just 40.9 percent and gives up 7.9 made threes per game. South Carolina averages 7.8 made threes, so there is no clear edge from beyond the arc. On the interior, Tennessee’s +10.2 rebounding margin and 3.5 blocks per game should limit second-chance points and easy looks.
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Prediction: Tennessee controls the pace and wins the rebounding battle, which leads to a comfortable road victory. South Carolina struggles to string together stops against an offense that can score inside and out.
Final Score: Tennessee 78, South Carolina 64
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Best Picks
- Tennessee -8.5
- Under 144.5. Tennessee’s defensive profile and South Carolina’s recent scoring dip point toward a game that stays under while the Volunteers cover.
