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Florida basketball vs. Missouri TV info, odds, preview, prediction

By Andrew Schutte

Jan 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Florida Gators guard Kasey Hill (0) Florida Gators forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) and center John Egbunu (15) and guard KeVaughn Allen (4) and forward Justin Leon (24) head the sidelines for a timeout during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Florida Gators defeat the Mississippi Rebels 80-71. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Florida Gators guard Kasey Hill (0) Florida Gators forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) and center John Egbunu (15) and guard KeVaughn Allen (4) and forward Justin Leon (24) head the sidelines for a timeout during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Florida Gators defeat the Mississippi Rebels 80-71. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /
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Florida basketball and Mizzou close out their regular seasons on Saturday as both the Gators and Tigers try to put an end to their respective four-game losing skids.

The Florida Gators (17-13, 8-9 SEC) find themselves in a rare position this Saturday — favorites to win a ballgame.

Both the Gators and the Tigers of Missouri are really struggling. Though, Florida’s troubles only began about a month ago, whereas Mizzou’s have been a season-long affair.

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UF, after losing four consecutive games and five of the previous six, is currently involved in a two-way tie for ninth place with Alabama in the Southeastern Conference standings and will be seeking merely to end the league slate with a .500 record. Meanwhile, Missouri (10-20, 3-14 SEC) is the lone cellar dweller — two games behind Auburn — and will finish dead last in the conference regardless of Saturday night’s outcome.

The Gators have hardly anything to gain and everything to lose in this weekend’s matchup. A win over the worst team in the league by no means solidifies an NCAA tournament bid, but a loss would certainly wreck any remaining hopes Florida may have of reaching the Big Dance.

Involving sophomore center John Egbunu early in the contest will be key for Florida as the big man is coming off arguably his best performance this season, totaling a career-high 27 points against the Wildcats earlier in the week. Same goes for Missouri and its freshman forward Kevin Puryear, who is the only Tiger to average in double figures this season (11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game).

Related Story: Gators lose to Kentucky in home finale

UF leads the all-time series 3-2, with both losses coming from games played in Columbia. The Gators have yet to win a game in Mizzou Arena since the Tigers joined the SEC (0-2).

Game information

Date: Saturday, March 5, 2016
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Location: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Mo.
TV: SEC Network
Livestream: WatchESPN
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network
Spread: Florida (-6)
Over/Under: 143

Florida began the month of February ranked second in the league in field-goal defense. But during its stretch of six losses over eight contests, the Gators have regressed considerably on the defensive end.

Dec 8, 2015; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Florida Gators center John Egbunu (15) dunks the ball against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at BankUnited Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2015; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Florida Gators center John Egbunu (15) dunks the ball against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at BankUnited Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Each of the last three opponents — Vanderbilt, LSU and Kentucky — have shot well over 50 percent from the field and no worse than 44 percent from beyond the arc.

Now the Gators rank 10th in the SEC in defending the three-point line at 35.1 percent.

Additionally, Florida has been absolutely atrocious from the foul line, particularly throughout its losing skid. The Gators rank 13th of 14 teams in free-throw percentage (.637), with arguably their worst outing coming against the Wildcats on Tuesday night (16-of-37).

That’s simply just not a recipe for success.

Luckily for Florida, Missouri has been unimpressive in just about every facet of the game.

The Tigers rate in the lower tier in 10 of the league’s major statistical categories, namely scoring offense (68.5 points per game), three-point shooting percentage (.307), threes made per game (5.6), rebounding (35.6 pg) and offensive boards (9.6 pg). Given how poorly UF has guarded the three-point line, Missouri may have a bit more success outside, however.

In its two seasons under head coach Kim Anderson, Mizzou is 19-43 overall and 6-29 in conference play. The Tigers, much like the Gators, have dropped four straight, but have won two of their last three home games against foes Tennessee and South Carolina — both of which are teams that have beaten Florida earlier this season.

Prediction

The worst team in the conference couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for Florida.

The Gators have an opportunity to end their regular season with a victory — something they haven’t experienced in nearly three weeks (last win came on Feb. 16 at Georgia) — and carry some momentum into the SEC tournament.

Of course nothing is guaranteed, especially when you consider how dreadful UF has looked at times during its recent tailspin. Add in the fact that this matchup is on the road, where the Gators have gone just 3-8 this season, and securing a W is anything but a gimme.

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With that said, Florida will still find a way to beat the Tigers on their home floor Saturday. Because however bad the Gators have looked throughout the last month, Missouri has been worse.

The Tigers have lost 13 of their last 15 and, aside from a surprising 72-67 win over South Carolina on Feb. 16 (ironically the same date as UF’s last win), haven’t had much to celebrate in 2016.

The Gators earn a much-needed win in their regular-season finale.

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