The top-seeded Florida Gators open up their NCAA Tournament journey on Friday night against the 16th-seeded Prairie View A&M Panthers in Tampa, and the early betting lines for the first round matchup are out.
Todd Golden’s team had won 12 games in a row before getting punched in the mouth by the Vanderbilt Commodores in the SEC Tournament semifinals. The Gators struggled to control the ball during their two tourney games, an issue that is hopefully resolved in time for March Madness.
The Panthers are facing the Gators thanks to a 67-55 win over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in the play-in game Wednesday night. Prairie View was just 19-17 overall coming into the game, but has won eight straight games, including four straight to earn the SWAC Tournament crown.
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Florida vs. Prairie View A&M odds, money line, over/under
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Florida vs. Prairie View A&M predictions, picks for college basketball
This is the biggest mismatch the Gators will have played since the opening month and this team is a much more cohesive squad than the one that pummeled the UNF Ospreys and Merrimack Warriors. Still, anything can happen at the Big Dance, so Florida must not fall for a trap game.
I fully expect Todd Golden’s team to come out guns ablazing, running the score up and giving Olivier Rioux his first NCAA Tournament appearance.
PREDICTION: Florida 91, Prairie View A&M 59
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida v Prairie View predictions, picks, odds: Who wins First Round?
Reporting by Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
