Updated February 16, 2026
As the Southeastern Conference regular season pushes into its final weeks, the South Carolina Gamecocks head to Gainesville to face the Florida Gators on Tuesday night. Florida has become one of the league’s top teams again with a strong run in conference play and sits atop the standings with a 19-6 overall record and 10-2 mark in SEC contests. South Carolina arrives with a less impressive 11-14 record and just two victories against SEC foes. Before tip-off in Gainesville Rock City, you will find my South Carolina vs Florida prediction right here.
Pick: Florida Gators -23.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 4/5
Florida enters this contest on a strong run with five straight wins and is ranked 14th in the nation. The Gators have excelled on the glass, leading college basketball in rebounds per game, which has helped a dynamic offense that scores over 86 points per outing. Their frontcourt presence, led by Rueben Chinyelu and scoring from Thomas Haugh, gives Florida an attack that most teams can't hope to contain.
South Carolina, meanwhile, continues to struggle with consistency on defense, losing 10 of their 12 SEC games and ranking near the bottom of the league in rebounding and defensive efficiency. Meechie Johnson Jr. provides a scoring spark for the Gamecocks, but they will need more contributions from their supporting cast to stay competitive against Florida’s size and depth. South Carolina also enters with multiple players listed as questionable or uncertain due to injury concerns that could further limit their rotation.
The Gators were ranked as one of the top teams going into this college basketball season. After struggling for portions of the non-conference season, they have turned things around in a big way in one of college basketball's toughest conferences. Another win here would keep them at least a game ahead of Arkansas at the top of the SEC standings going into the weekend.
Score Projection: South Carolina 63 – Florida 88 ATS PRO
Win Probability: South Carolina 12%, Florida 88% ATS PRO
This contest looks set to be a one-sided game in favor of the Florida Gators. From rebounding to scoring efficiency and depth, Florida holds advantages across virtually all key statistical categories and has dominated recent head-to-head meetings. South Carolina’s current form does not suggest they can keep pace, and Florida covering the spread feels like the best move to make in the betting markets as far as I'm concerned.