The Florida Gators might have an 8-3 record heading into their last non-conference game of the year against the Florida State Seminoles, but they haven't really beaten anyone yet this year with a legitimate chance to get into the NCAA Tournament. That could all change if they can snare this win on Tuesday over their arch rivals from Tallahassee.
You can bet on college basketball odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
SCHEDULING
The fact that the Gators have failed time and time again versus Power Five foes is a real concern to us. Yes, they've had a whole week to prepare for this game, and yes, they're 6-0 SU and 2-0-1 ATS thus far this year at home, but this is a far different challenge from what we've seen thus far this year.
Florida State will be off the court for eight straight days before this one, but live bettors have to be a little concerned if this is a close game on the road. Leonard Hamilton's history of winning close games on the road is shoddy at best, and a 78-75 road loss at Iowa in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge is the only time this year that the Seminoles have played a legitimate road game.
KEY MATCHUP
Hamilton has had a lot of awesome guards in his day at Florida State, but he hasn't had a trio of guards quite like this at the same time. Malik Beasley, Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathan-Mayes are combining to average over 45 points per game this season, and it's very likely that as the season wears on, those numbers are only going to go up. All three of these men have proven to be able to step up and knock down big time shots in their careers, and Florida is going to have its hands full for sure.
That said, the Gators have played well defensively against Power Five teams this season. Bryn Forbes and Denzel Valentine were held to just 10-of-28 shooting against the Gators, and though Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez combined to score 41 against them, 11 of those points came at the foul line.
The matchup here in the backcourt is going to be key for live betting purposes. Florida State won't have any real scoring options if the guards aren't penetrating to the hoop and getting easy shots, and if the Gators want to pull off this upset, they had better figure out how to stop the dribble drives to the hole.
KEY STAT
The Seminoles have only made a total of 60 three-point shots this year. Considering how great their guards are, they aren't great shooters from beyond the arc, and if they fall behind in this game, they aren't going to be able to catch up all that quickly.
Florida's perimeter defense has been sharp all season long, and both Dorian Finney-Smith and Kasey Hill are great defenders on and off the ball.
Of course, live bettors also need to remember just how good the Noles are defensively. The raw stats don't necessarily show it, but when things slow down, trying to score against FSU in the half court is nearly impossible, particularly for teams which shoot under 30 percent from downtown as Florida does.
The Seminoles are blocking an average of 3.8 shots per game and forcing over 13 turnovers per game. Florida cannot afford too many wasted possessions, as it also really isn't the type of team which can come from behind by too many points.
If either team gets up by double digits in this one, it's a safe bet to think that that team will end up winning the game, something that live bettors must remember on Tuesday night.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The showdown between the Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators will start at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at the Stephen O'Connell Center. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN2.
