Arkansas Faces Tough Road Test Against South Carolina Despite Favorable Odds
The Arkansas Razorbacks (17-11, 6-9 SEC) are set for a challenging road matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks (11-17, 1-14 SEC) in Columbia. While South Carolina’s conference record might not be impressive, the Gamecocks are a tougher team than their numbers suggest.
According to ESPN BET Sportsbook, the Razorbacks enter as 1.5-point underdogs, but ESPN Analytics gives them a 58.3% chance to secure the win on the road. Under John Calipari, Arkansas is bound to face a motivated opponent, as teams always get extra energy when competing against the legendary coach. Historically, defeating Calipari has been a tall order, particularly during his tenure at Kentucky.
Even though South Carolina has struggled this season, they will be eager to upset Arkansas and use their home crowd to create a hostile environment. With Arkansas still working to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume, this is a game the Razorbacks simply cannot afford to lose.
Injury Report: Who’s Available for This SEC Battle?
South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks will face an Arkansas team riding high after an electrifying overtime win against Texas at Bud Walton Arena. Despite their struggles, South Carolina is relatively healthy heading into this matchup. However, per the SEC Student-Athlete Availability Report, they will be without senior guard Myles Stute.
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks will once again take the court without their most productive player, Adou Thiero. The star guard, who leads the team in scoring, steals, rebounds, and field goal percentage, remains sidelined with an injury, and there is no clear timeline for his return. Arkansas is also missing freshman standout Boogie Fland, who underwent season-ending surgery.
With both teams dealing with key absences, this SEC showdown could come down to which squad can overcome adversity and execute down the stretch. Arkansas will need to dig deep if they want to avoid an upset and continue their push toward the NCAA Tournament.
