**LSU at South Carolina**

--LSU (20-7 straight up, 10-11 against the spread) has won four consecutive games, but the Tigers have been a go-against team over the last month. In fact, they are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games.

--South Carolina (14-13 SU, 10-14 ATS) appeared to be on the verge of making a late-season surge into contention for an at-large invite to the NCAA Tournament. However, those hopes have been dashed by a three-game losing streak both SU and ATS. The slide started with a 79-66 home loss to Kentucky on Feb. 18. Then last week, the Gamecocks dropped a pair of heartbreakers (at Georgia and vs. Vandy) by one point apiece.

--Dave Odom's team is 9-5 SU at home, 6-5-1 ATS. The 'Cocks will be home underdogs for just the second time this year. They beat Florida 68-62 as four-point home 'dogs on Jan. 25.

--John Brady's team beat Kentucky 71-67 Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, but the Bayou Bengals disappointed their backers as six-point favorites. Glen "Big Baby" Davis dominated the Wildcats with 28 points and 15 rebounds.

--Davis is enjoying an outstanding sophomore campaign, leading the SEC in scoring and rebounding. The Baton Rouge product is averaging a double-double by producing 18.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

--LSU freshman power forward Tyrus Thomas is "questionable" after spraining his ankle Saturday in the win over UK. Thomas played only 18 minutes versus the 'Cats, scoring nine points and grabbing seven rebounds. Thomas leads the SEC in blocked shots (3.0 blocks per game) and is second in rebounding (9.3 RPG).

--The 'under' is 4-1 in LSU's last five games.

--The 'under' is on a 6-3 run in SC's last nine outings.

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened LSU as a 1 1/2-point favorite with a total of 132.

--Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**St. Joseph's at Xavier**

--LVSC has tabbed Xavier (17-8 SU, 10-12 ATS) as a 5 1/2-point 'chalk' with a 127-point tally.

--St. Joseph's (13-12 SU, 11-12 ATS) owns a 5-4 spread record as an underdog this year. The Hawks are 6-6 ATS on the road.

--Phil Martelli's squad has won three straight games, but it is just 1-2 ATS in that span. The Hawks are off a 70-39 win against Richmond as 13-point home favorites.

--Xavier has won 11 of its 14 home games, but the Muskateers are only 3-8 ATS.

--The 'under' has posted an amazing 13-3 record in St. Joe's last 16 games. On the flip side, Xavier has seen the 'over' go 4-1 in its last five games.

--ESPN2 will provide the telecast at 7:30 p.m Eastern.

**Illinois at Minnesota**

--Most spots have installed Illinois (23-5 SU, 14-10 ATS) as a 3 1/2-point favorite with a total of 122. The Illini have won 14 consecutive games against the Gophers, posting a 6-1 ATS mark in the last seven showdowns between these Big Ten adversaries.

--Minnesota (14-11 SU, 9-9 ATS) owns a 12-4 SU record and 5-4-1 spread mark at home. Dan Monson's squad has won four in a row at the Williams Center, compiling a 3-0-1 spread record.

--Minnesota is 4-1 ATS as a home underdog.

--Bruce Weber's team has struggled on the road in Big Ten action, losing four if its games.

--The 'under' has cashed in eight of Minnesota's 10 home games with a total.

--The 'over' is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head meetings with a total.

--ESPN will provide television coverage at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.