LSU at South Carolina

South Carolina opens up a two-game homestand here where they are 12-0. LSU is in town with a marquee star, but is a weak road team (3-4). South Carolina is coming off an 81-78 win at eighth ranked Texas A&M as forward Michael Carrera (14.1 points, 7.2 rebounds) continued his torrid stretch with 20 points. The Gamecocks hit 52.6 percent from the floor against the Aggies. South Carolina is #35 in NCAA RPI and the Gamecocks are 7-2 straight-up against teams in the top 100 of the RPI. This team is outstanding defensively, as the Gamecocks rank seventh in the nation with 42 boards per game and are #18 in field-goal defense (38.9 percent). The Gamecocks have not been outscored in the paint this season, leading that category in 21 games while tying Clemson and Georgia. South Carolina is on a 19-7 spread run, including 13-3 ATS at home. The wagering value is on the talented home team to win this showdown. Play South Carolina on the moneyline.