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The No. 8 seed UConn Huskies (24-10) and the top-seeded Florida Gators (31-4) meet Sunday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh for an NCAA Tournament West Region second-round game. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. ET (CBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UConn vs. Florida odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Huskies threw a blanket on ninth-seeded Oklahoma in the first round Friday, limiting the Sooners to 32.1% shooting (17-for-53) in a 67-59 win and cover as 6-point favorites with the Under (147) cashing. The 2-time defending champs held Oklahoma to just 17.6% (3-for-17) from behind the 3-point line, too.
UConn G Solo Ball scored a team-high 14 points, while F Alex Karaban was good for 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 38 minutes. The Huskies weren’t terribly efficient from the field, hitting 42.9% (24-for-56) and just 24.0% (6-for-25) from downtown. That’s going to have to pick up dramatically against the top-seeded Gators Sunday.
Connecticut has won and covered 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament games. In addition, it is 6-1 straight up (SU) in the past 7 games, and 5-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past 6 outings. The Under is 6-0 in the past 6 games, too.
Florida barely broke a sweat vs. No. 16 seed Norfolk State Friday, winning 95-69. However, the Gators were unable to cover as 28.5-point favorites as the Over (153.5) hit. G Walter Clayton Jr. led the way with 23 points, including 4-for-9 from downtown, while G Alijah Martin had 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting.
The Gators have won 7 in a row, going 6-1 ATS in the span. Plus, the Over is on an 8-0 run. Florida has won 13 of the past 14 with a 12-2 ATS record, while the Over is 11-3.
Florida is No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, while UConn is unranked.
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UConn vs. Florida odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 10:11 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): UConn +375 (bet $100 to win $375) | Florida -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): UConn +9.5 (-110) | Florida -9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 151.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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UConn vs. Florida picks and predictions
Prediction
UConn 73, Florida 69
Moneyline
UCONN (+375) is worth a look for the opportunity to nearly quadruple up on your initial wager.
It won’t be easy to show top-seeded Florida (-500) the door, but if anyone can, it’s 2-time defending champ UConn. The Huskies have won 13 straight NCAA Tournament games, and they won’t go easily.
Against the spread
UCONN +9.5 (-110) is worth a play if you’re a little more conservative, and not willing to roll the dice on a bit of a long-shot.
The Huskies know how to heat up at the right time, proven by their consecutive NCAA Tournament game win streak.
Florida is a tremendous team, but it showed some vulnerability in losses at Georgia (by 5 points Feb. 25) and at Tennessee (by 20 points Feb. 1). The Gators can be very good, but sometimes they can also completely disappear. They turned it over plenty against Norfolk State, committing 12 miscues. That won’t do against the 2-time defending champs. Florida needs to bring its ‘A’ game.
Just don’t wager more than 1½ units between the 2 plays — the UConn ML and the UConn spread.
Over/Under
UNDER 151.5 (-115) is the play, but we’re going against the trends for the Gators. They’ve cashed Overs in their last 8 outings.
For UConn, though, the Under has cashed in 7 in a row with the Huskies limiting their opponent to 66 or fewer points in 5 of their last 6. Plus, in last season’s NCAA Tournament, UConn cashed Under in all 6 games.
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