Virginia-Florida Line at Gators -3.5
Carrie Stroup here with your Virginia-Florida line for the 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament betting. You can get all the updated odds at Sportsbook.com and be sure to claim up to $250 in FREE CASH based on an initial deposit. Let’s get started….
Sportsbook.com Line: Florida -3.5
Opening Line: Gators -3.5
Florida tries to snap out of its late-season funk on Friday night as it takes on a Virginia team that defends as well as anybody in the nation.
This will be a great contrast in styles, as the Gators like to push the tempo and shoot three-pointers while the Cavaliers prefer a slower pace with long possessions. Florida leads the nation with 9.9 threes per game while Virginia ranks second in the country scoring defense, allowing a paltry 53.7 PPG. Since hanging 98 points at Arkansas on Feb. 18, the Gators are 2-4 (1-5 ATS) and averaging a mere 64.7 PPG. They have reached 70 points just once in these six games, which was their lone ATS win coming in the SEC semifinal loss to Kentucky, 74-71. Florida certainly has the ability to get hot and pull away with three-point shooting, but the more likely scenario is that UVa frustrates its opponent with the deliberate pace and PF Mike Scott has a field day in the paint against the undersized Gators.
The Cavaliers have also been sliding lately, going 1-3 (SU and ATS) in its past four contests. But all three of these losses came by just three points, despite two of those winning opponents making more than half their shots (Florida State 51.1% FG, NC State 54.0% FG). Since getting shut down by Carolina on Feb. 25 (six points on 3-of-13 FG), the senior Scott (18.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG) has three straight double-doubles, scoring a whopping 28.7 PPG (50% FG) with 10.3 RPG. Joe Harris is his only teammate that averages double-figure scoring at 11.5 PPG. The sophomore guard shoots 40% from three-point range and is coming off an 18-point game in the ACC quarterfinal loss to NC State. Sophomore F Akil Mitchell (4.1 PPG) opened some eyes with a double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds) in the loss to the Wolfpack.
Florida has a lot of weapons that make up its 76.3 PPG (27th in nation). Junior G Kenny Boynton (16.3 PPG) is the top scorer, but freshman F/G Bradley Beal is the most well-rounded player with 14.6 PPG and a team-high 6.5 RPG. Boynton is in a huge shooting funk in his past five games, going 14-of-48 FG (29%), capped off a by a 1-of-9 performance in the loss to Kentucky on Saturday. Beal had no such trouble against the ‘Cats, pumping in 20 points (4-of-7 threes), eight rebounds and five assists. Junior F Erik Murphy (10.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG) was even better, scoring a career-best 24 points (9-of-12 FG, 4-of-4 threes) against UK. Murphy is averaging 17.7 PPG in his past three contests.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
