Best places to watch the SC Gamecocks in the Final Four near Myrtle Beach

The South Carolina Gamecocks are in the Final Four, baby! And now you’re looking for a place to watch the game where you can get some cold drinks, warm food and shout them on to victory.

Below is a list of bars and restaurants along the Grand Strand — North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Conway and the Pawleys Island/Murrells Inlet area.

NORTH STRAND

Overtime Sports Cafe

Overtime Sports Cafe in North Myrtle Beach is definitely one of the best on this list.  Primarily due to the fact that they have over 150 screens, which, if we’re being honest, is over 149 more screens than you need, as well as a 12 foot video wall.  Seriously.  Remember in “The Dark Knight” when Morgan Freeman was spying on everyone’s cell phones on that giant video wall and everyone thought how cool it would be to watch sports on it? Yeah, well Overtime has that.

The sports bar also features three 10-foot projector screens, which means there’s really not a bad seat in the house to watch anything.

Overtime opens for lunch at 11 a.m. every day and offers an express lunch, as well as happy hour from 4-7 p.m., Monday through Friday. They also have a private room for if you want to have a private Donald Trump bracket-viewing party (oh wait).

Overtime is located at 1409 Hwy 17 S in North Myrtle Beach, and is open from Noon – 11 pm every day.

Buffalo Wild Wings

I hate to go corporate here, but when you’re right, you’re right.

Founded in 1982 Buffalo Wild Wings, or BW3’s (as the cool kids call it) found a winning combination that works.  On any random Sunday in the fall thousands of Jets fans can be heard proclaiming “J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets” because they know where to go to see the action and also yes that’s a real chant.

B-Dubs put their money where their mouths were, loading up on 1080p TVs (at last count there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 65, but then my loaded nachos showed up).  Buffalo Wild Wings has a spacious dining room and bar, so if you’re more accustomed to bar stools or you like the cushy feeling of the booth, you have options.

Buffalo Wild Wings is located in the Plaza at Gator Hole at 518 Highway 17 North in North Myrtle Beach, and opens Monday-Friday 11 a.m. – midnight, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. on weekends.Hickory Tavern

Hickory Tavern, the new kid on the block, is quickly gaining steam as one of THE places to go to see the big game.

The sports bar took a large space (with an outdoor patio) and filled it with flat screens and amazing food, and opened for business.  What more are you looking for in a sports…watching…experience? Food and sports.  Done.  That’s  all you need.

Hickory Tavern has 56 flat screen TVs and two large HD projectors, so if you can’t see the game it’s probably because you’re in the parking lot.

Hickory Tavern is situated in the Coastal North shopping center at 1580 Highway 17 North in North Myrtle Beach, and opens every day from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.

CENTRAL MYRTLE BEACH

Bumstead’s Pub

Bumstead’s is one of those under-the-radar places that you would never know about until you got to town and found out that all the locals were talking about it, or by reading this post, so you’re welcome.

Bumstead’s has a friendly atmosphere and that cool, “I’m at a real bar” feel. The restaurant/sports bar offers multiple sports-watching opportunities, and quite possibly my favorite part, private televisions in each booth. So essentially what that means is, you control what you watch, and the volume, and how close you sit to the TV, no matter what your mom says.

For the total count, Bumstead’s has 56 TVs, with six of them being outside on their all-new patio area complete with a fire pit.

Bumstead’s is located in the heart of Myrtle Beach at 400 Mr. Joe White Ave., and is open from 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. Monday – Friday, Noon – 2 a.m. weekends.Broadway Louie’s

Broadway Louie’s  is kind of the blueprint for what you look for in a sports bar.

Not only do they have a super huge open area ripe for peaceful, meaningful discussions about sports, they also have 11 million screens with which to watch sports. OK maybe not 11 million but they do have that curvy screen thing you see in the photo to the right; it’s like you’re watching the Final Four in a condensed version of Times Square.

In addition to all of the above, Louie’s has a full service bar downstairs, an upstairs bar and overlook area, and a stage for when you have to many daiquiris and feel an impromptu performance of “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough” coming on.

If you need a break from the action, take a step outside, look left and right, and you’re right in the middle of Broadway at the Beach. A world of zip-lining, Airbrush T-shirts and building bears is right at your fingertips.

Broadway Louie’s is in the Broadway at the Beach complex at 1318 Celebrity Circle in Myrtle Beach, and opens from 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. Monday – Friday, Noon – 2 a.m. on weekends.

King Street Grille

Despite having an excellent location (right in the middle of Market Common), King Street Grille has it all.  And I’m not just talking Mac & Cheese Egg Rolls, although that’s really the only viable reason a person should ever go anywhere.

King Street Grille has 28 flatscreen TVs and features an outdoor patio area where you can soak up the sun, get a breath of fresh air and watch others shop at Tommy Bahama.

King Street Market Common is located at 3040 Howard Ave. in Myrtle Beach, and is open 10:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. every day.

SOUTH STRAND

Dagwood’s Deli & Sports Bar

Dagwood’s Deli & Sports Bar in Surfside Beach is kind of the greatest.

Featuring 59 flat screen TV’s, Dagwood’s does it right with, once again, private booth TVs as well as surrounding and bar flat screens.

Dagwood’s also offers two billiard tables, dartboards and several sports video games.

“But what about those fries?” you may be asking. I know, I know I’m getting to that.  Dagwood’s french fries speak for themselves.  If it were simply a room with no TVs and one broken stool, these french fries would get Dagwood’s on this list.

Dagwood’s is located at 600 U.S. 17 Business in Surfside Beach, and is open from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight Sundays.

Spencer’z

Ordinarily my policy is to never trust a business that reaplaces its S’s with Z’s, but we’ll go ahead and make this the one exception.

Spencer’z has 26 flatscreen TVs for you to indulge your “madness” on, as well as pool tables and a jukebox to keep the atmosphere lively. Spencer’z has a great menu offering homemade pizza, Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, wings and salads, and a full service bar.

Located just one block south of the corner of 544 and Business 17, you should be able to spot Spencerz near in the Old Time Pottery shopping center; just look for the building painted Black and Gold for all the Pittsburgh transplants.

Spencer’z with a Z is located at 1880 U.S. 17 Business in Surfside Beach, and is open every day from 11 a.m.-midnight.King Street Grille

Well, would you look what happened here.  All I’m saying is, a King Street is no better or worse on the north end than it is on the south end.

King Street’s Murrells Inlet location features 43 high-definition TVs with lots of room to jump and shout and be happy or sad that your team is winning (or losing).

The sports bar sits on the Murrells Inlet marsh, providing a beautiful view of the…well, marsh, with a patio out back overlooking the water.

King Street south is located at 4891 U.S. Business 17 in Murrells Inlet, and operating hours are 10:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. every day.

CONWAY

Tongy’s Shmackhouse

Tongy’s is a relatively new spot in Conway that gained instant popularity.

With 17 screens, the popular CCU hotspot has a full bar and 20 beers on tap, both domestics and a wide variety of craft beers from the Southeast. Tongy’s has 8,000 square feet that features pool tables to chat around as well.

Tongy’s is a very popular late night college bar for CCU students, and has found a strong local following due to cheap prices and great food. All burgers, sandwiches, and wraps are $5-$6 at Happy Hour along with some cheap drink specials.

Tongy’s is located at 201 Graduate Rd. in Conway, just across from CCU, and is open Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 2 a.m., and Noon – 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Carolina Wings & Rib House

Carolina Wings & Rib House is your typical sports bar, with 23 screens showing every game.

With regards to food, CW’s (not like the TV station, we’re not watching Smallville here) has over 20 different wing sauces to choose from, a large variety of appetizers from Fried Mushrooms to Nachos and Chicken Quesadillas. Not to mention burgers, sandwiches, BBQ and ribs, so essentially, something for everyone.

The Conway sports bar has a wide open space with a great environment for watching the game, bringing the kids or getting together with friends.

CW’s is located at 117 Rivertown Blvd. in Conway, and is open every day from 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.Coastal Ale House

Coastal Ale House is another CCU beloved, sitting just a few miles amor campus.

If you’re going to watch sports (which is why we’re all gathered here today) then you’re in luck, the bar has 16 screens and a lively atmosphere. In fact, the bar has a very laid-back feel with these really cool Hawaiian-loking fans so for those hot tempers, prepare to take Arnold’s advice in “Batman Forever” and “chill”.

As for location, that’s another plus.  Sitting off of 501 just west of the Hwy. 31 off ramp, you’ll have no problem getting to Coastal Ale House.

The popular Conway sports bar is located at 115 Waccamaw Medical Park Dr. in Conway, and is open Monday – Thursday from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., closed Sundays.

This story was originally published March 30, 2017 at 2:03 AM.