ESPN Analytics predicts outcome of Kentucky-South Carolina showdown in Columbia
By Mark Kern
Published:
ESPN Analytics believes that Mark Pope’s Kentucky team has a major advantage on Tuesday night as it travels to Columbia to take on South Carolina for a primetime SEC showdown.
Kentucky just three games ago looked once again like a tournament team, but a three-game skid has dropped the Wildcats to 8-6 in the SEC. Their most recent loss was a last-second loss to Auburn, as a questionable foul on the Wildcats late set the Tigers up to win the game late. Kentucky entered this season with a ton of hype and spent the most NIL money last off-season. If the Wildcats are going to salvage their season, it has to start with a win at South Carolina.
The Wildcats have a 75.6% chance to prevail over South Carolina, according to the ESPN Analytics, and the matchup will be on the SEC network, being placed in the 7 p.m. ET window.
That number is similar to what the Wildcats are getting on prediction market Kalshi, where anyone can wager on the game by predicting the outcome:
There are still games remaining on the schedule where Kentucky could pick up some big wins, as they have home games remaining against Vanderbilt and Florida, as well as having the SEC tournament provide many opportunities.
As much of a struggle as this season has been for the Wildcats, it has been worse for South Carolina. The Gamecocks limp into this game with a 12-15, but are coming off a 97-89 win against Mississippi State in their last game that ended a 7-game losing streak. In that game, guard Meechie Johnson finished with 21 points and a career-high nine assists.
