South Carolina State Bulldogs vs South Carolina Upstate Spartans Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 1
South Carolina State blocked shots and scored from everywhere against an overmatched opener. Upstate was tested at East Carolina and turned the ball over. Friday in Spartanburg sorts out which opener told the truth.
The Matchup
South Carolina State visits South Carolina Upstate on Friday evening at the G.B. Hodge Center in Spartanburg, on ESPN+, with Upstate a 7.5-point favorite and a total of 148.5. It is an in-state game between two teams whose openers could hardly have been more different.
South Carolina State finished 10-22 last season, scoring 67.1 points a game and allowing 78.8, then opened this season by beating Morris 94-55. Morris is a non-Division I opponent, so that margin proves depth more than quality. Upstate finished 13-19 last season, scoring 74.3 and allowing 73.7, and opened with an 83-70 loss at East Carolina, a real road test against a Division I team. How much of that carries into Friday is the open question, because the two openers pointed in opposite directions.
Upstate's tougher opener and home floor explain the price. What the price does not fully respect is South Carolina State's defense and depth, because the Bulldogs just put twelve scorers on the board and protected the rim all night, even if the opponent was overmatched.
Key Factors
South Carolina State's rim protection is the surprise in this matchup. Andre NGomabie blocked 6 shots in 14 minutes against Morris, and a road underdog with a genuine rim protector can stay in a game its offense does not deserve to be in.
Christian Barnes gave the Bulldogs shooting to go with it, scoring 12 points in 14 minutes and going 4-of-6 from three, and Jayden Pretty added 10 points with 7 rebounds. DeShaun Jackson Jr. ran the team with 9 points, 6 assists and 3 steals. That is a lot of production spread across a rotation, and rotations travel.
Upstate's problem showed up at East Carolina, and it was the ball. Jalyn Patterson scored 16 points for the Spartans, but he also turned the ball over 7 times, and a primary ball handler giving possessions away is exactly what a defense with Jackson's hands and NGomabie's rim protection wants to see.
Upstate allowed 73.7 points a game last season, so its defense does not erase those mistakes at the other end. Miles Webb did give Upstate a real inside presence, with 12 points and 10 rebounds at East Carolina, and that battle inside is where the home team will press its case.
The counterpoint is the schedule honesty. South Carolina State's 94 points came against Morris, and its defense allowed 78.8 a game last season against real competition. Upstate has already played a Division I road game, gets its home opener, and has the best rebounder in the game in Webb.
If the Spartans take care of the ball, they can win this by double digits. The bet is that the ball security problem is real, that it follows Patterson home, and that a deep road team with a shot blocker is the wrong kind of opponent for a favorite that gives possessions away.
Upstate is at home, but its lead guard gave the ball away all night in the opener, and South Carolina State protects the rim and spreads its scoring across the whole rotation. Road underdogs with a defense travel. Take the points with South Carolina State Bulldogs +7.5 at -105.
Game Information
| Date | Friday (11/6) |
|---|---|
| Start Time | 5:30 PM CT |
| How to Watch | ESPN+ |
| Venue | G.B. Hodge Center, Spartanburg |
| Spread | South Carolina Upstate Spartans -7.5 |
| Total | 148.5 |
| Moneyline | South Carolina Upstate Spartans -310 |
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