The Florida Gators are fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but Jerry Palm of CBS Sports projected that UF will fall just short of its goal in his latest bracketology update.
Palm included Florida in his First Four Out along with Nevada, Wake Forest and UCF. The teams to beat include Indiana, Maryland, Memphis and USC. Although none of those teams are on Florida’s schedule, beating the top teams in the SEC will serve just as well as evidence for the selection committee.
Florida’s record against opponents projected to make the Tournament isn’t great. Narrow losses to both Auburn and No. 11 seed Florida Atlantic work might work in favor of UF down the road, but significant losses to No. 10 seed Oklahoma, No. 3 seed UConn and No. 2 seed Xavier might cancel that out. Right now, Florida has a win over Missouri to lean on, but it needs another quality win or two against the top of the conference to secure a spot in March Madness.
CBS Sports projects six programs from the SEC to make the field: Alabama is the No. 1 seed in the East; Tennessee is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest; Auburn is the No. 5 seed in the West; Missouri is a No. 8 seed in the West; Arkansas is the No. 9 seed in the South; and Kentucky is a No. 11 seed in the East.
[mm-video type=video id=01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg-c640babe687004c896ec7a3af514c1b9.jpg]
[lawrence-related id=99220,99212,99226,99224,99199]
[listicle id=99233]
[listicle id=99229]
[listicle id=99134]
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!