The Florida Gators are still alive following an upset win in the first round. It won’t get any easier for them, though, as the Michigan Wolverines await them in the next round. Will the Gators weave their magic again? Or will Michigan end Florida’s season? See all future odds for remaining teams in the tournament here.
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Betting Preview for the Florida Gators vs. Michigan Wolverines College Basketball Game on March 23, 2019
Where: Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, Des Moines
When: Saturday, March 23, 2019, 5:15 PM ET
Line: Florida Gators (+7) vs. Michigan Wolverines (-7) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: truTV
Betting on the Florida Gators (20-15 Overall / 9-9 Conference)
It seems that the Gators are peaking right now. It started in the SEC tournament, where they defeated the conference’s regular season champions LSU Tigers, and while they lost in the SEC Finals to the Auburn Tigers, it was a close one (65-62), showing how ready they are for the Big Dance. On Thursday, the Gators sustained their momentum and upset the No. 7 Nevada Wolf Pack, 70-61. The Gators used their defense, as usual, to cover up for their shortcomings on offense. They diffused Nevada’s high-scoring offense, limiting the Wolf Pack to only 34.5 percent from the field and forced Eric Musselman’s team to commit 14 turnovers. Florida, however, need its offense to step it up against Michigan. In what could be slow, defensive battle, it’s the offense that could spell the difference for the two teams this weekend.
Florida, which allowed just 63.6 points per game in the regular season, is 5-0 against the spread (ATS) in its last five games. They are 16-19 ATS overall on the season, covering only 45.7% of the time.
Betting on the Michigan Wolverines (29-6 Overall / 15-5 Conference)
The Wolverines were simply too good for the upset-seeking Montana Grizzlies. Using their superior size and unforgiving defense, the Wolverines sent Montana home after a 74-55 win on Thursday. Michigan held the Grizzlies down to only 33.3 percent and neutralized Montana’s outside shooting. The Grizzlies were among the best 3-point shooting team in terms of accuracy in the regular season, but went just 6-for-24 from behind the arc against Michigan. Taking away their opponents’ offense has been a forte of the Wolverines this season. They has the second-best defense in the nation per KenPom and finished the regular season with a scoring defense that surrendered just 58.5 points per game. The Wolverines shouldn’t have much problem defending against Florida’s anemic attack, though, they will have to avoid giving freebies to the Gators. Against Montana, the Wolverines had 12 turnovers to just 10 by the Grizzlies.
The under is 3-1 in Michigan’s last four games. The Wolverine’s are 20-15 ATS overall this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan wins, 63-56.
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