The Crimson Tide desperately try to avoid a letdown heading into the NCAAB Florida at Alabama pick. Alabama looked great on Saturday, going into Knoxville and toppling #7 Tennessee 71-63 as +10.5 underdogs. It was the third straight win for Nate Oats’ team, but another big challenge awaits on Tuesday.
Even with star player Keyontae Johnson sidelined for the season with a heart ailment and the Gators missing extended time, UF was able to outlast a good LSU team 83-79 on Saturday as -2.5 favorites. Florida has now gone to 5-1 on the season, but are still +3 underdogs against a team they have beaten three straight times.
Big Conference Matchup for Florida
Both the Gators and Alabama have started off 2-0 in SEC conference play, with Florida easing back into their schedule starting with a 91-72 win over Vanderbilt on December 30th. The team had taken some time off to deal with the aftermath of Johnson, a preseason ALL-SEC selection, collapsing on the court against Florida State. Florida didn’t play from December 12th until December 30th.
With Johnson in the crowd for moral support, Florida was able to beat LSU 83-79 on Saturday. LSU’s star Cameron Thomas dropped 28 points and Javonte Smart added 20, but it wasn’t enough against a balanced Gators attack that saw four players go for 16+. 6’11” beanpole Colin Castleton has now gone for 21 and 23 points since Johnson’s absence – stepping up huge for Mike White’s team.
The Gators have the #3 scoring team in the SEC, but Alabama’s defense did a number on Tennessee over the weekend, holding the Vols’ #5 conference offense to 31.8% (21-67) from the field and just 4-21 from three point range. The betting total for the NCAAB Florida at Alabama pick is still 153 though.
Alabama Hopes to Avoid a Letdown
The win in Knoxville on Saturday was the first time Alabama had beat a top 10 team on the road in 16 years, but there’s no time to celebrate with the Gators coming to town. The Crimson Tide should avoid getting complacent considering they haven’t beaten UF since 2018. Florida has also won the last three in Tuscaloosa by 13, 21, and 18 points.
The Crimson Tide didn’t shoot super lights out in the 8-point win at Tennessee, hitting 42% of their shots from the field and being led by 17 points from John Petty, Jr. Alabama does have the #6 scoring offense in the SEC though, and like Florida are very balanced with four players averaging at least a dozen points per game.
Another reason Alabama will likely put out a great effort on Tuesday is because the Gators came back from 21-points down to beat the Tide 104-98 in Gainesville last season as -7.5 home underdogs. That’s the biggest comeback in Florida history, and one that has to sting the Tide even still.
Free NCAAB Florida at Alabama Pick
55% of the public likes Florida getting the +2.5 in a game they could very easily run away with outright. The Tide defense was very impressive over the weekend however, and they’ve been on a run that includes an 82-64 win over Ole Miss as just -2.5 favorites the last game in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama 73 – Florida 70
Free Pick: Under 153
