NCAA Tournament: 5 Things We Learned About the Florida Gators

Florida Keeps Leaving the Backdoor Open

Two notable betting trends are worth watching in Thursday's Sweet Sixteen showdown versus the Maryland Terrapins. First, the Gators have gone over the total in nine straight. Second, they've left the backdoor open, allowing underdogs to cover in each of their two tournament games. 

Florida was favored by 28.5 points versus Norfolk State. While they built a comfortable 21-point lead at the half, the Gators scored just six points over the final 3:19, allowing the Spartans to cover. Likewise, the SEC Champs were outscored 11-5 over the final 40 seconds on Sunday, helping UConn cover the -9.5 spread. 

Covering isn't winning, but it's a bad omen for a team facing more challenging opponents as the tournament progresses. Florida needs to be better at closing out games, otherwise those backdoor covers could turn into ugly losses.

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Walter Clayton is a Scoring Machine

Few players match Walter Clayton's energy and scoring ability night in and night out. The Gators guard was instrumental in both tournament victories, foreshadowing what's to come. 

Clayton has elevated his offensive performance down the stretch. The senior scored 23 points in each of the Gators' two wins this weekend, shooting 12-for-25 from the field, including 9-for-17 from beyond the arc. 

As we saw against UConn, Florida needed every bit of Clayton's offensive contributions. If the Gators hope to carry the championship torch further, Clayton will lead the way.

Turnovers are an Issue

While the Florida Gators punched their way into the Sweet Sixteen, it wasn't without concern. Turnovers were a serious issue for the Gators through the opening two rounds. They can't afford to make those same mistakes as the tournament field condenses. 

Florida turned the ball over 12 times in the Round of 64 and 12 more against UConn on Sunday. That resulted in a -7 turnover differential, which obviously allowed the Huskies to stay within reach all game. 

The Gators can't make those same mistakes and expect to survive. While they have many talented players, they can't continuously play at a deficit and expect to triumph.

Florida Can Defend the Three-Ball

Florida was one of the best teams at defending the three in the country. As proficient as they are, we saw them set a new standard in two tournament games. 

The Gators held UConn to just 8-for-29 from beyond the arc in the Round of 32. Combined with Norfolk State's 2-for-14 effort in the opener, Florida has held its tournament opponents to a cumulative 23.3% three-point shooting percentage. That represents a six-point drop from their fifth-ranked benchmark of 29.3%.

Florida pushes the pace offensively, forcing opponents to lean into the three-ball to try and keep pace. As we've seen all season, the Gators' three-point defense has prevented that from happening. 

Florida Keeps Leaving the Backdoor Open

Two notable betting trends are worth watching in Thursday's Sweet Sixteen showdown versus the Maryland Terrapins. First, the Gators have gone over the total in nine straight. Second, they've left the backdoor open, allowing underdogs to cover in each of their two tournament games. 

Florida was favored by 28.5 points versus Norfolk State. While they built a comfortable 21-point lead at the half, the Gators scored just six points over the final 3:19, allowing the Spartans to cover. Likewise, the SEC Champs were outscored 11-5 over the final 40 seconds on Sunday, helping UConn cover the -9.5 spread. 

Covering isn't winning, but it's a bad omen for a team facing more challenging opponents as the tournament progresses. Florida needs to be better at closing out games, otherwise those backdoor covers could turn into ugly losses.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.