As of early Friday morning, FanDuel had Florida (22-6 straight up, 15-13 against the spread) installed as an 8.5-point home favorite (at a -114 price) for Saturday’s SEC showdown vs. Arkansas. The total was 167.5 points, while the Razorbacks were +340 on the money.
Todd Golden’s team extended its winning streak to eight games with Wednesday’s 84-71 win at Texas as a 7.5-point road ‘chalk.’ The 155 combined points dipped ‘under’ the 158.5-point tally.
Texas led 39-36 at halftime and was ahead for a good chunk of the game. However, UF’s 6-foot-11 power forward Alex Condon sparked a 14-1 run that put the Gators ahead 75-65 with 4:16 remaining.
Condon led the way with 23 points four rebounds, four blocked shots and three assists without a turnover. He made 10-of-12 field-goal attempts.
Boogie Fland added 22 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals, burying 7-of-10 FGAs and 2-of-3 hoists from 3-point range. Xaivian Lee was also in double figures with 12 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal. The Princeton transfer hit 4-of-6 FGAs and 2-of-3 from downtown.
Isaiah Brown had another solid performance in 21 minutes of action from off the bench. He contributed nine points (4-of-6 FGAs), eight rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.
During UF’s eight-game winning streak, it has compiled a 6-2 ATS record with each win coming by at least nine points. Seven of the eight victories have been by 13 points or more.
The Gators are on an 8-0 ATS run in their last eight games as single-digit favorites.
Arkansas (21-7 SU, 19-9 ATS) is 4-4 SU and 5-3 ATS in eight road assignments. The Razorbacks are 5-4 ATS with four outright wins in nine games as underdogs this season.
John Calipari’s team is playing really good ball, but the Hogs aren’t on UF’s level, especially in the frontcourt.
UF wins by double digits.
PREDICTIONS: Let’s risk 2.28 units to win two units on Florida -8.5 (-114 price via FanDuel) vs. Arkansas. If you aren’t holding a future ticket on the Gators to repeat, then I think you’re making a mistake. I’m in on UF at 20/1 odds from the preseason and added some more at 16/1 back in January. Even though you can’t get those numbers now, I’m of the opinion that it’s still a steal to buy UF for at least one unit at 11/1 odds (per DraftKings as of early Friday morning).