When discussing the world of college hoops, the Florida Gators don’t immediately come to mind, especially in the brutal SEC. But it wasn’t too long ago that the Gators captured back-to-back National Championships and even more recently made a trip to the Final Four. They missed out on the NCAA Tournament in both years following that Final Four season, but they are back in a big way, and have a first place showdown with the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday.
At 2 p.m. ET, tune into CBS for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at Rupp Arena. We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Saturday schedule.
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One team will see a winning streak end and the other will take over first place in the SEC with one more week remaining in the regular season. The Gators have been the hottest of the two clubs, rattling off a nine-game winning streak. And they’re coming off a beating of the third place team in the conference, covering the 7.5-point spread in Tuesday’s 81-66 win over South Carolina. Florida has been a good bet during their current run, posting a 7-2 ATS record during their winning streak, which includes an 88-66 win over Kentucky on Feb. 4.
Kentucky’s loss at Florida earlier this month capped a run where the Wildcats lost three of four and failed to cover each time. There was a loss to Kansas in that span and also a befuddling defeat at the hands of Tennessee. UK’s lone win in that four-game stretch was an overtime triumph over Georgia. It was a bad time for Kentucky basketball. John Calipari had a poignant message for his club following the Florida loss. He told his club they need to “play better.” The talent is there, the effort wasn’t. The Wildcats got the message and haven’t lost since, posting five straight wins.
Last Meeting
Kentucky saw its five-game winning streak over the Gators end emphatically earlier this month when the Wildcats were run off the floor in the 88-66 setback. It got so bad for Kentucky that the Gators were trying to post a margin of 30 points. “We were trying to do it,” Florida’s Kasey Hill said after the game. It also didn’t help UK that their three leading scorers all struggled.
Malik Monk, De’Aaron Fox and Isaiah Briscoe combine to score over 50 points a game, but against the Gators they managed just 36 on 12 of 35 shooting. As a team, the Wildcats shot 37.7 percent in that game making just 23 of 61 attempts. The Gators take as much pride in playing defense as anything and the effort paid off. Florida was also disruptive on the glass, grabbing 54 boards compared to UK’s 29. It added up to the Gators’ largest margin of victory ever against the Wildcats.
Injury Report
The Gators suffered a big blow to their interior when John Egbunu was lost for the season with a knee injury two games ago. Florida struggled in its first game without its starting center, squeaking by Mississippi State 57-52 on the road. The Gators looked a little more comfortable during their win over the Gamecocks, but that was at home. Florida takes to the road for this one and faces a stiff test up front from the likes of Edrice Adebayo, Wenyen Gabriel and Derek Willis.
You know Kentucky would like to make up for that poor rebounding effort they had in Gainesville just a few weeks ago, and that is more likely without Egbunu, who leads the Gators in rebounding and is second in blocks.
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The Gators poured it on last meeting and the Wildcats had no answer. That game is done, but the memories are imprinted in the collective minds of every UK player. It was an embarrassing loss and those just don’t happen to the Wildcats. The Gators are a good team led by the backcourt duo of Kasey Hill and KeVaughn Allen, who combined for 33 points and spearheaded Florida’s attack in the first game.
But the Wildcats get their chance to avenge that earlier loss at Rupp Arena with first place in the SEC on the line. I don’t expect UK to play as poorly as they did in Gainesville and the Gators will have difficulties on the road. It’ll be a close, so take the Gators and the points, but the Wildcats will prevail with the victory.
College Basketball Odds: Kentucky 74, Florida 72
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