Alabama vs. Florida TV info, odds, preview, prediction
The Gators have an opportunity to improve their SEC standing and their NCAA tournament résumé with a win over the Crimson Tide tonight in the O’Dome.
The Florida Gators (16-8, 7-4 SEC) host the Alabama Crimson Tide (14-9, 5-6 SEC) this weekend in Gainesville in what will be the fifth straight SEC game in which the Gators’ foe is vying for a tournament bid.
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Florida enters this game fresh off of a solid 77-73 win over Ole Miss on Tuesday night, notching its sixth win in its last eight outings. The Gators are currently tied with Texas A&M for second place in the league standings — just one game back from the first-place cluster of LSU, Kentucky and South Carolina (all sitting at 8-3).
Meanwhile, Alabama’s confidence is sky high after knocking off the Aggies on Wednesday and having now won four of its last five games. Considering it started conference play 1-5, that’s not too shabby.
Overall, ‘Bama leads the all-time series between UF my a margin of 73-66. With that said, the Gators have secured victories in the last 11 games against the Crimson Tide.
Game information
Date: Saturday, February 13, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM ET
Location: Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
TV: SEC Network
Spread: Florida (-10)
Over/Under: 132
Related Story: SEC Basketball: Race for first place is heating up
Earlier in the season, Florida ranked dead last in the SEC in shooting percentage. Now, the Gators have climbed their way up to No. 8 in the conference behind a made field goal percentage of 43.
Yet, they still struggle shooting the three ball (32.8 percent, 12th) and free throw shooting has been wildly inconsistent (64.6 percent, 13th). Additionally, teams have been able to exploit the defense of late courtesy of a combined 46.8 percent shooting from the floor and an impressive 30-for-60 from beyond the arc by opponents.
Florida still has solid playmakers that have breakout potential any given night, though.
Senior Dorian Finney-Smith leads the Gators in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest while his backup Devin Robinson is coming off his best all-around game with the Gators in the Ole Miss win. Center John Egbunu also had a sound performance against the Rebels, logging his fourth double-double of the season.
Replicating those efforts offensively will be key in beating Alabama at home.
The Crimson Tide have won three straight, knocking off Mississippi State on the road in overtime, Missouri at home and No. 15 Texas A&M by a single point early this week. And, despite going for 80 points two of the last three, Alabama still rates as the second-worst scoring team in the SEC — averaging a paltry 67.8 points per game.
A strong shooting night by Florida may overshadow its lackluster defense and could be just enough to elevate the Gators over the Tide this evening.
Prediction
Despite its shooting woes, Florida always seems to play particularly well on both ends of the floor when the game is played on a Saturday, and especially so on its home floor.
More shots seem to fall and the energy on defense is always amped up in front of raucous Rowdy Reptile crowd — which spells trouble for an Alabama team that already has the worst scoring offense and commits more turnovers per game (14.2) than any other SEC team.
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In the end, the Gators will be too much for the Crimson Tide in front of a nearly sold out O’Connell Center.
Alabama will play Florida tough for 35 minutes, but this will likely be another case of the Gators hitting clutch shots late to pull away — and ultimately cover the 10-point spread.
Gators will earn their eighth conference win and remain within striking distance of first place in the SEC.