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The NCAA Tournament is the single greatest betting event perennially. With the thrills, chills and heavy favorite spills, the Madness always delivers. What Final Four wager has the attention of The Gaming Juice’s Brad Evans?
No. 1 Florida (34-4) vs. No. 1 Auburn (32-5)
Date: Saturday, April 5
Time: 6:09 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
The pick — SGP: Florida ML, Auburn +10.5 (+177, Caesars)
The economically strained penguins dwelling in the Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands are looking for creative ways to offset fiscal burdens.
Thank goodness for the Final Four.
With all four teams ranking inside the KenPom all-time top 10, this season’s last dance has the chance to be a memorable one.
Taking the stage first, Florida vs. Auburn is sure to be one heck of an opening act.
The SEC adversaries last exchanged pleasantries on February 8 at Neville Arena. In that matchup, the Aijah Martin-less Gators asserted themselves from the jump and sped away from the Tigers to win 90-81.
A complete replication seems very unlikely in the rematch, but a somewhat similar outcome could unfold.
Since March 1, Todd Golden’s group checks in at No. 2 overall, according to BartTorvik. Over that 10-game stretch, Florida is No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency, netting an obscene 1.366 points per possession. More specifically during that time, the Gators shot 58.6% from 2-point range and 37.3% from 3. They also grabbed an offensive rebound on a galactic 41.7% of their possessions.
According to the metrics, Auburn’s scoring chops pale in comparison. Over its last nine contests, Bruce Pearl’s bunch is a modest No. 118 in effective field goal percentage offense, converting 53.5% inside the arc and 34.1% outside of it. Most alarming during the span, the Tigers are No. 205 in defensive rebounding percentage.
In the teams’ first fisticuffs, Auburn matched Florida rebound for rebound. However, spoiled opportunities at the free-throw line (14 for 23) and equalizers drilled by UF (13 of 33 on 3s) were difference makers.
The Gators’ size, scoring balance and free-throw execution gives them the advantage. Yes, Johni Broome is destined for another 20-10 finish, but how well Tahaad Pettiford, Miles Kelly and Denver Jones perform from the perimeter will ultimately decide the Tigers' fate.
This gamer is backing Florida in what should be another single-digit decision.
Good luck following, flightless friends.
Season record: 33-34, -2.58 units