NCAA Basketball Matchup: Wildcats vs Gators
Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats had a great run in the NCAA Tournament last year.
7:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Florida -11
Over/Under: 145
This year they must try to make a run without star Derrick Williams. Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators lost much of their frontcourt from last year, but they return a ton of talent in the backcourt. The Gators also brought in a great recruiting class. Both of these teams enter with two losses so far this year.
Can Florida get back on track at home?
Arizona is a very young team this year. The Wildcats are led by Solomon Hill and Kyle Fogg. Hill is averaging 12 points and eight rebounds per game this season.
Fogg is averaging 11 points per contest, but he is shooting just 39% from the floor. As a team the Wildcats are only shooting 42% from the field. Miller has the youngsters playing solid defense. Arizona is allowing opponents to shoot only 41% from the floor. Opponents are averaging just 63 points per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Arizona has won two straight games after losing two in a row in late November.
The Florida Gators have two losses already this season, but their loss came on the road at Ohio State and Syracuse. Not many teams could go to Columbus or Syracuse and come out with wins right now. Bradley Beal and Patric Young were both highly decorated high school players who entered the program this year, and neither of them have disappointed so far this year.
The Gators backcourt is deep and extremely talented. Kenny Boynton, Bradley Beal, Erving Walker, and Mike Rosario form what is one of the best backcourts in the country.
Florida is second in the nation in points per game at 88 per contest.
Both teams like to push the pace because of their athleticism. Look for this one to be an exciting matchup with plenty of points.
I like the over in this game.
Prediction: Florida 81 Arizona 71
