Game Preview: South Carolina Basketball Faces Mercer Bears Thursday Night
The South Carolina Gamecocks, under the leadership of head coach Lamont Paris, are set to host the Mercer Bears on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET in the Colonial Life Arena, Columbia. Both teams enter the matchup with a record of 2-2, as they begin their respective conference play.
Fans eager to watch the game can stream it live through SEC Network+ and ESPN+, with no traditional TV broadcast available. Broadcast commentary will be provided by Dave Weinstein and John Williams. For those wishing to follow the action via radio, the Gamecock Sports Network will air the game with play-by-play from Derek Scott and analysis by Casey Manning, starting with a pregame show at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be available on Sirius XM 385.
In terms of betting, DraftKings has placed South Carolina as a 16.5-point favorite, with an over/under set at 149. The Gamecocks have a significant moneyline advantage at -1650, while Mercer sits at +950, indicating a high probability of a South Carolina victory.
Computer predictions suggest a win for the Gamecocks, with Massey Ratings estimating a score of 76-63, giving South Carolina an 89% chance of winning. ESPN’s BPI offers a similar forecast, projecting a 15.4-point Gamecock victory.
Historically, South Carolina leads the series against Mercer 4-2 and has won the last three encounters, the most recent being a decisive 88-52 victory in December 2001. The Gamecocks will look to extend this streak and solidify their position as they kick off the season’s conference play.
For updates and live coverage throughout the matchup, fans can follow GamecockCentral’s dedicated game thread.
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