SEC Betting on Improving Reputation
The Southeastern Conference has taken as many hits as those in the banking industry for their lackluster play this season. Last night, even Dick Vitale managed to take a break from showering his praise on Duke and North Carolina and said the best teams in the SEC would have a hard time being anything other than middle of the road in the Big East. OucH
Though the conference is deeply rooted in football, the fans and league officials are similar to Portland Trailblazers general manager Kevin Pritchard, never at a loss to take praise even when they had little to do with situations. For the moment, SEC basketball is reminiscent of Big East football a few years ago (gasp), where ridicule came more frequently than praise.
Florida (18-4, 7-8 ATS) could have done something to alter this national perspective, but were dragged around like a gator by the tail at Tennessee in being wiped out 79-63 as 3.5-point underdogs. Though the Gators have talented players, they are dependant on point guard Nick Calathes to set the offense in motion. Against the Vols, Calathes picked up two quick fouls less than three minutes into the game. He ended up playing just nine total minutes in the first half and Florida never found an offensive flow.
We were a little rushed," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "We took some ill-advised shots. On a couple of those possessions you want to push and attack, but there has to be a balance to it, and sometimes we didn't show good judgment." Coach Donovan teams are 31-20 ATS off a road loss.
Maybe it is a team like South Carolina (16-4, 8-7 ATS) that could bring excitement to the SEC. After suffering a pair of road defeats, the Gamecocks hosted Florida 17 days ago and ran away, literally, with a win which has started a streak. South Carolina scored on breakaway throw and catch at the buzzer to defeat the Gators 70-69 at home and have a four game conference winning streak after junior guard Devan Downey provided the winning basket on an eight-foot jumper with three seconds left for a 78-77 come from behind triumph at Kentucky.
Downey is the face of this club that is 13-4 ATS in road games after three consecutive conference games, having scored 20 or more points in half their games. A win in Gainesville keeps South Carolina in first place in the SEC East race, pending the outcome of Kentucky game. Even with the conference having a down year in basketball, any team being able to go to Lexington and Florida and win in consecutive games would have to draw attention. The Gamecocks are 11-2 ATS on the road versus teams outscoring their opponents by eight or more points a game after 15 or more contests over the last three seasons.
Bookmaker.com has established Florida as nine-point favorites, with a total of 151.5. The Gamecocks are 17-7 ATS as a road underdog or pick, however 0-6 against the spread if previous upset win came as a road dog. The Gators are 13-0 (4-3 ATS) at home playing a non-conference schedule loaded with empty tomato cans. Florida is only 2-5 ATS off a loss.
Florida has won nine of ten (5-5 ATS) at home against South Carolina, with the Gamecocks having covered four in a row. ESPN will provide the coverage starting at 9 Eastern with Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes, with the South Carolina attempting to mask the fact they allow 49.1 percent shooting on the road, while clanking only 57 percent of free throws in league play.
Power Line - Florida by 10
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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South Carolina (16-4) at Florida (18-4)
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DATE & TIME: Tuesday, February 3rd, 9:00 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: O'Connell Center (12,000) -- Gainesville, Florida. Television: ESPN. Home Record: S. Carolina 13-1, Florida 12-0. Away Record: S. Carolina 3-3, Florida 2-3. Neutral Record: S. Carolina 0-0, Florida 4-1. Conference Record: S. Carolina 5-2, Florida 5-2. Series Record: Florida leads, 34-20.
GAME NOTES: The surprising South Carolina Gamecocks invade the O'Connell Center in Gainesville this evening for an SEC clash with the Florida Gators. On Saturday, South Carolina recorded a thrilling 78-77 road victory over Kentucky to climb into a three-way tie for first place in the SEC East with the Wildcats and tonight's opponent, Florida. The Gamecocks are riding a four- game win streak and own a 16-4 overall record, including a 5-2 mark in league play. Their record in true road games is a mediocre 3-3, and they will attempt to improve that mark this evening. Florida hopes to bounce back strong from a 79-63 loss to Tennessee on the road on Saturday. The Gators had a two-game win streak halted in that clash and fell to 18-4 overall. They are a perfect 12-0 at home this season, an obvious reason for confidence tonight. Florida owns a 34-20 series lead over South Carolina, but the Gamecocks beat the Gators in a 70-69 final just a couple of weeks ago.
South Carolina benefits tremendously from the talents of guards Devan Downey and Zam Fredrick, who are averaging 19.8 ppg and 16.0 ppg, respectively. Downey has dished out 86 assists while racking up 61 steals as well, while Fredrick's scoring average would be even better if not for his shaky 39.9 percent shooting from the floor. Those players get plenty of help from Dominique Archie, who adds 11.3 ppg to the mix, as well as Mike Holmes, who provides 11.2 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Thanks in large part to the efforts of those four players, the Gamecocks are putting up 79.8 ppg while allowing 68.7 ppg. In the one-point triumph over Kentucky on Saturday, Fredrick scored 24 points, while Downey was close behind with 23. Holmes racked up 15 points in the triumph, and Sam Muldrow pulled down 12 boards. South Carolina was outplayed in many aspects of that game, but the Gamecocks managed to force 21 turnovers while committing just 10 of their own.
Florida's Nick Calathes is one of the best two-way guards in the nation, as he does it all for the Gators. Calathes is scoring 18.0 ppg on 52.4 percent shooting from the field, and he is pulling down 5.3 apg as well. Just a sophomore, the backcourt standout has dished out 143 assists in 22 outings and has posted 42 steals as well. Alex Tyus provides 12.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg from his center position, and Chandler Parsons adds 10.2 ppg to the mix. Florida is scoring 78.6 ppg overall while limiting foes to 65.0 ppg. Against Tennessee on Saturday, Florida shot just 36 percent from the field in the first half and trailed by 17 points at intermission. Despite a much better effort in the second stanza, the Gators weren't able to overcome the early deficit. They committed 18 turnovers in the tilt and forced only 11.
Give a narrow edge to Florida this evening, as it will avenge the earlier loss to South Carolina. Expect Calathes to be the best guard on the floor for either team.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Florida 74, South Carolina 69