South Carolina Gamecocks vs Butler Bulldogs Prediction and Picks - November 21, 2025
Use Code SSWC It's the SEC vs the Big East in college hoops action on Friday afternoon, and we have a South Carolina vs Butler prediction ready to rock and roll. This is a part of the Greenbrier Tip-Off. South Carolina comes in a perfect 4-0 on the season and they are off an 87-58 home win over Radford. The Bulldogs enter this game off an 87-85 road loss to SMU, which dropped them to 3-1 on the year. Continue reading to see our South Carolina vs Butler prediction.
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Gamecocks Grab An Easy Win Over Radford
South Carolina comes into this matchup fresh off an 87-58 win over Radford, a game where the bench stole the show. Freshman guard Eli Ellis poured in 14 points on efficient shooting, while forward Elijah Strong added 15 points on 7-of-10 from the floor. Veteran Mike Sharavjamts chipped in a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and the Gamecocks had all 12 players who saw the floor score at least once. It was a complete team effort, and the win pushed South Carolina to 4-0 on the season.
Through four games, the Gamecocks have looked balanced and efficient. Meechie Johnson leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game, while Ellis has been steady with 14.5 points and nearly four assists per contest. Sharavjamts has provided versatility with his shooting touch and rebounding, and Myles Stute has chipped in 8.8 points per game while stretching defenses from the perimeter. South Carolina is averaging 85.5 points per game while shooting nearly 47% from the field and 36% from three, numbers that reflect a confident offense. Defensively, they’ve been even better, holding opponents to just 67.5 points per game and ranking among the nation’s best in three-point defense at 24.6%.
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The key for South Carolina against Butler will be maintaining that defensive intensity while continuing to get contributions from their bench. Ellis and Strong have emerged as reliable scorers, but Johnson’s ability to control tempo and Sharavjamts’ versatility will be critical against a Bulldogs team that thrives on ball movement. If the Gamecocks can keep Butler’s shooters in check and force them into contested looks, their balanced offense should give them a chance to stay unbeaten.
Butler Falls Short Against SMU
Butler enters this contest after a narrow 87-85 loss at SMU, a game where the Bulldogs nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback. Guard Finley Bizjack hit five three-pointers and finished with 18 points, while forward Michael Ajayi posted his fourth straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Butler erased a seven-point deficit in the final minute, tying the game on Ajayi’s three, but SMU’s Jaron Pierre Jr. converted a late putback to seal the win. Despite the loss, Butler showed resilience and offensive firepower.
The Bulldogs have been one of the more entertaining teams early this season, averaging 95.8 points per game while ranking top-20 nationally in rebounding and assists. Bizjack leads the team in scoring at 15 points per game, shooting nearly 48% from deep, while Ajayi has been a force inside with 14.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per contest. Jamie Kaiser Jr. has added 11.5 points per game, and Jalen Jackson has been steady at 9.3 points while leading the team in assists. Butler’s offensive depth has allowed them to push tempo and overwhelm opponents, though turnovers have been a recurring issue.
Defensively, Butler has been more vulnerable, allowing 72.8 points per game, and that’s where the matchup with South Carolina gets interesting. The Bulldogs will need to tighten up against a Gamecocks team that has multiple scoring options and thrives when hitting the 80-point mark. Ajayi’s presence on the glass will be critical to limiting second-chance opportunities, while Bizjack and Kaiser must continue to knock down perimeter shots to stretch South Carolina’s defense. If Butler can control tempo and avoid the turnover bug, they have the offensive firepower to make this a high-scoring battle.
South Carolina vs Butler Pick
South Carolina vs Butler Spread Pick
- Butler -2.5 (2 Units)
Butler comes into this matchup with a strong defensive identity and a disciplined half-court approach that should give them the edge against South Carolina. The Bulldogs have been efficient offensively, shooting well from the perimeter and relying on balanced scoring to keep opponents off guard. Their ability to control tempo and limit turnovers makes them difficult to rattle, especially against a Gamecocks team that has struggled to generate consistent offense when forced into half-court sets. Butler’s rebounding presence and defensive rotations should also neutralize South Carolina’s attempts to attack inside, giving the Bulldogs a clear path to covering the spread.
South Carolina has shown flashes of competitiveness, but their offensive inconsistency remains a concern, particularly against teams that can defend the three-point line and force contested looks. The Gamecocks’ pace and reliance on streaky shooting make them vulnerable to scoring droughts, and Butler’s defensive efficiency is well-suited to exploit that weakness. With Butler’s ability to dictate tempo, maintain offensive balance, and lock down defensively, this matchup projects as one where the Bulldogs steadily build separation. That makes Butler -2.5 the sharper side heading into this contest.
South Carolina vs Butler Over/Under Pick
- Under 153.5 (1 Unit)
The total of 153.5 looks inflated given the styles of Butler and South Carolina, making the under the sharper side. Butler thrives in half-court sets and leans on defensive discipline, while South Carolina has struggled with offensive consistency and tends to bog down against teams that contest the perimeter well. Neither team plays at a particularly fast pace, and both rely on physicality and rebounding to control possessions, which naturally limits scoring opportunities. With Butler’s defensive efficiency and South Carolina’s streaky shooting combining to suppress extended runs, this matchup projects closer to the mid-140s range, making the Under 153.5 a strong play.
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