Georgia Bulldogs vs Florida Gators – NCAA Basketball Preview – February 25, 2025
Georgia hosts Florida on Tuesday night at the Stegeman Coliseum in Athens. The game tips off at 7:00 PM ET and features the second-place Gators taking on the struggling Bulldogs. Florida is 24-3 overall and 11-3 in the SEC, while Georgia is 16-11 and near the bottom of the conference standings at 4-10.
Florida dominated the last meeting between these teams on January 25, winning 89-59 at home. The Gators have won 12 straight against Georgia, dating back to March 2019. Florida is aiming for its seventh win in a row, while Georgia is trying to snap a four-game losing streak and improve its NCAA Tournament chances.
Georgia Preview – Can the Bulldogs Stop the Slide?
Georgia needs a win badly. The Bulldogs are 16-11 and 4-10 in the SEC, placing them 13th in the conference. Their recent form has not been good, with four straight losses, including an 82-70 defeat at No. 1 Auburn on Saturday. The Bulldogs have struggled against ranked teams, going just 3-10 this season.
Head coach Mike White believes his team is playing better despite the losses. Against Auburn, Georgia competed well and kept the game close into the second half. The Bulldogs need to replicate that effort against a tough Florida team to keep their slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
Asa Newell is the top scorer for Georgia, averaging 15.4 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. is another key player, putting up 12.1 points per game. Georgia’s biggest challenge will be matching Florida’s scoring pace while keeping their defense strong enough to avoid another blowout loss.
Florida Preview – Gators Eye Another Win
Florida is playing its best basketball of the season. The Gators are 24-3 and ranked No. 3 in the country. They lead the SEC in scoring with 83.6 points per game, good for 10th in the nation. Florida has won six straight games, five of those by double digits.
The backcourt trio of Walter Clayton Jr. (17.1 ppg), Alijah Martin (15.0 ppg), and Will Richard (12.6 ppg) drives Florida’s offense. Recently, center Rueben Chinyelu has added a strong inside presence, averaging 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds over the last three games. He had a big performance against LSU with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Florida’s defense has also been solid, allowing just 68.7 points per game. The Gators are tough on the boards, ranking fourth nationally in rebounding. They excel at wearing teams down with depth and strong play on both ends of the floor. The game plan against Georgia will likely involve attacking the paint and maintaining high defensive intensity.
Betting Prediction
Florida is a 6.5-point favorite on the road. The over/under is set at 149.5 points. The Gators have covered the spread in 22 of their 37 games this season and are strong on the road with a 6-2 record. Georgia has struggled at home, going just 1-7 against the spread in Athens.
Georgia has shown fight against strong teams but has not been able to close out games. Florida’s balanced scoring and strong defense should be too much for the Bulldogs to handle. The predicted score is Florida 84, Georgia 70, with Florida covering the spread comfortably.
Pick: Florida Gators -6.5
