NCAA Final Four Preview: Florida vs Auburn College Basketball Best Bets
Grant White
Host · Writer
This was the SEC Championship Game everyone wanted. Better yet, now we get it in the Final Four. The top-seeded Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers take to the court at the Alamodome, looking to punch their ticket to the National Championship.
These teams are very evenly matched, reflected in the betting line. The Gators are short -2.5 favorites for Saturday night’s tilt, with the total hovering at a staggering 159.5. As inferred, offense is these teams’ preferred method of winning games, which means it could come down to which team can make the most (if any) stops.
This is what we’re here for. Florida and Auburn will deliver an instant classic in this year’s Final Four.
Where to Watch Florida vs Auburn
- Arena: Alamodome
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Date: Saturday, April 5
- Where to Watch: CBS
- Time: 6:09 p.m. ET
- Spread: Florida -2.5 | Total: 159.5
- Moneyline: Florida -155 | Auburn +130
- SportsGrid Matchup Page
Please be aware that betting odds may change after the publication of this article.
Florida vs Auburn Best Bet: Auburn +2.5
This SEC showdown has all the makings of a last-possession game. Florida and Auburn are offensive juggernauts. The Gators ranked third in scoring with the second-most efficient offense in the country. Auburn is close behind, sitting 12th in scoring and third in efficiency. Naturally, those metrics contribute to two lofty records. Florida is 27-11 against the spread, with the Tigers slightly below that proficiency level, checking in at 21-16. You can go up and down these teams’ respective stats, and they stay within striking distance of each other from top to bottom. We expect this game to play similarly, with neither team pulling away. While we expect the Gators to advance, Auburn should be able to keep things close. But this one has heartbreaker written all over it.
Florida vs Auburn Best Total Bet: Over 159.5
This has been a season of high-scoring games, not just for these teams, but across college basketball. Despite that persistent trend, this total is still within reach for both teams. The Gators have been one of the most insane ‘over’ runs in recent memory. Florida has eclipsed the total in 11 straight games, despite totals climbing as high as 180 on several occasions. While the Tigers have emphasized defense lately, they were also prone to those high-scoring affairs throughout the season. They went 21-16 to the ‘over’ this season, including five straight to end the regular season. When these teams met earlier this season, they combined for 171 points. A duplicate performance is expected in San Antonio.
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Florida Best Player Bet: Walter Clayton Jr. to Record 25+ Points +210
Walter Clayton Jr. has been an unstoppable force for the Gators all season. The senior guard does it all, but his scoring prowess has driven Florida to the Final Four. Clayton Jr. leads the team with 18.3 points per game, but his production has skyrocketed when the Gators need him most. He’s coming off a 30-point effort in the Elite Eight and has surpassed 22 points in five of his last six. Predictably, his shooting metrics are all on the rise over that stretch. Clayton Jr. averages 13.7 field goals per game, with 8.8 coming from distance. Moreover, he’s gotten to the charity stripe 6.8 times per game over that stretch. Clayton Jr. has the production to match his scoring increase, and that’s projected to continue versus Auburn. We’re making a value play and betting he reaches 25 points on Saturday night.
Auburn Best Player Bet: Johni Broome Under 9.5 Rebounds -105
Johni Broome is for Auburn what Walter Clayton Jr. is for Florida. Broome emerged as one of the premier players in the country this season. The Tigers forward averaged a double-double on the season, putting up 18.7 points and 10.9 rebounds, the ninth-most in the country. He’s seen a massive surge in his rebounding in the NCAA Tournament, but we’re anticipating some minor regression in the Final Four. Over his last three games, Broome has totaled 42 rebounds, averaging 14.0 per game. Natural regression is inevitable, but a couple of other factors are at play. First, the Gators are one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Second, if both teams score with the frequency we’re expecting, fewer rebounds will be up for grabs. Altogether, those factors point toward Broome coming up short of 9.5 rebounds versus Florida.
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