Tag: ncaa basketball betting

#14 Florida Gators (12-3) vs Tennessee Volunteers (7-7)

The Florida Gators may already have 3 losses but don’t be tricked into thinking this is not one of the best teams in America.  

Saturday January 7
Thompson Boling Arena
11:00AM
Moneyline: Florida -350, Tennessee +290
Spread: Florida -7.5
O/U:  146

Florida

All of their losses have been in true road games and two of them were at Syracuse and Ohio State.  The loss at Rutgers might be a head scratcher but, like I said this team is very good, not perfect, team, blessed with maybe the best backcourt in America and a terrific post player.  I am not sure about their overall depth but this team can hang with pretty much anybody and is probably going to beat Kentucky when they host them later this season.

It is really hard not to like that backcourt, both in quality and quantitt  The Gators have an amazing 4 guards averaging 9 or more point per game with Kenny Boynton leading the team with 9ppg.  I would still like to see them throw the ball more often to Patric Young. who is a load to handle down low. because even though the guards are great he offers an amazing physical mismatch almost every night.  Any game this team is shooting well they are very tough to beat.

Tennessee

It is a shame what has happened at Tennessee with the departure of former coach Bruce Pearl. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

 I was a big fan of the program, their success and their style of play.  I don’t want to pretend to know all the details but weren’t the infractions pretty minor, especially given how he has elevated the program to new heights.  Right now they are entering SEC play with just a .500 record.  New coach Cuonzo Martin has this team playing hard and they seem to rise to the occasion, playing their top opponents very well even though they haven’t broken through yet with a victory.  This team should be able to compete in a mediocre SEC.

The talent level in Knoxville is below what we are used to seeing, giving lots of players a chance to step forward.  The one player who really stands out is guard Trae Golden.  As a frosh he never really found a way to contribute regularly but this year with the extra playing time he is leading the club with 14ppg.  His play against Florida is going to be especially important because he is also their leading distributor and will have to guard one of the Gators great guards.  Forward Jeronne Maymon is another player who will have his hands full as he try to keep Young out of the paint.  He is their leading rebounder but unfortunately the matchup is not unfavourable.  Pretty much all of them are that way for the Vols in this one.

Spread Pick: Florida -7.5
O/U Pick:  Over
Score Prediction:  Florida 83 – Tennessee 69

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